Cessna 172 accident near Leesburg, Virginia, March 1, 2024
On March 1, 2024 at about 1:14 pm local time, a 2005 Cessna 172, registered N1057R, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern downwind) near Leesburg, Virginia (Leesburg Executive 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An in-flight collision with a bird while on the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 1, 2024 · about 1:14 pm local time
- Place
- Leesburg, Virginia · Leesburg Executive Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 S, built 2005 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N1057R · registry record · serial 172S9814
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that while on the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern during a training flight he saw two birds in close proximity. While the student continued on the downwind leg, the flight instructor observed a black shadow in his peripheral vision and then heard a “thump.” The flight instructor informed the student of the bird strike, and with a positive exchange, took control of the airplane. He performed a normal no-flap landing and then taxied to the ramp. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the right wing had been 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 downwind) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 376 hours in all; 274 in this make and model; 85 in the last 90 days; 46 in the last 30 days; 313 as pilot in command; 66 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 18, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 12 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,883 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 9, 2024; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 7,733 hours total
- Operator: Aviation Adventures LLC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 5,500 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.61 inHg
- Observation at 8:15 am from KJYO
Weather report (METAR): METAR KJYO 011315Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 01/M05 A3061 RMK AO2=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA24LA137.