Extra 300 accident near Rome, Georgia, March 29, 2022
On March 29, 2022 at about 2:45 pm local time, a 2015 Extra 300, registered N808YF, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Rome, Georgia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An inflight collision with a bird while conducting low level aerobatics.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 29, 2022 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Rome, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Extra 300 LC, built 2015
- Registration
- N808YF · no longer on the register · serial LC044
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was practicing aerobatics (about 400- 600 ft above ground level) when a “large” bird impacted the leading edge of the vertical stabilizer, which resulted in substantial damage. The airplane rolled and yawed slightly after the impact, but the pilot was able to maintain control of the airplane and land immediately without incident.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Birdstrike during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,800 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 3,300 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 4, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 743.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 10, 2022; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,095 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-580-B1A (piston); 743 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 am from KRMG
Weather report (METAR): METAR KRMG 291453Z AUTO 14003KT 9SM FEW080 14/00 A3019
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on May 31, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Written Statement - Pilot | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.