Piper Aircraft INC PA-28R-201 accident near Macon, Georgia, June 24, 2023
On June 24, 2023 at about 7:30 pm local time, a 2017 Piper Aircraft INC PA-28R-201, registered N285MG, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern crosswind) near Macon, Georgia (Macon Downtown airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 24, 2023 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Macon, Georgia · Macon Downtown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper Aircraft INC PA-28R-201, built 2017
- Registration
- N285MG · registry record · serial 2844167
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot receiving instruction, he had initiated the upwind-to-crosswind turn in the airport traffic pattern. With the left wing raised in the right turn, a bird came into the pilot’s view and struck the left wing before the pilot could initiate an evasive maneuver. The flight instructor assumed control of the airplane, completed the traffic pattern and the landing without injury to the occupants or damage beyond that resulting from the bird strike. Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that the left wing was substantially damaged.
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 approach (VFR pattern crosswind) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 757 hours in all; 201 in this make and model; 188 in the last 90 days; 68 in the last 30 days; 686 as pilot in command; 431 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 21, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 274 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 211 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 20, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,513.9 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 7, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 (piston); 257 hours total
- Operator: Middle Georgia State University
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 4,694 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from MCN, 9 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KMCN 241953Z 28008KT 10SM FEW060 SCT085 32/18 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP142 T03170183
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on August 31, 2023. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 12 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Docket Photo Array | 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.
Other NTSB records under N285MG the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.