Cessna 152 accident near Pembroke Pines, Florida, March 14, 2024
On March 14, 2024 at about 2:38 pm local time, a 1981 Cessna 152, registered N6300Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Pembroke Pines, Florida. It was an instructional 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 approaching the destination airport.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 14, 2024 · about 2:38 pm local time
- Place
- Pembroke Pines, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152, built 1981 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N6300Q · registry record · serial 15285225
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot was on the last leg of a solo, cross-country flight. About 10 miles west of his destination airport, he encountered a flock of birds. While attempting to evade the flock, a large bird struck the right wing leading edge, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot was able to continue to his destination and land uneventfully with the bird lodged in the wing.
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 enroute defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Ability to respond/compensate
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on equipment
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 96 hours in all; 95 in this make and model; 63 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 10 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IMM Immoklee FL at 1:48 pm
- Destination: HWO Pembroke Pines FL
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 am from KHWO, 10 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KHWO 141453Z 10SM FEW028 26/19 A3013 RMK AO2 SLP203 T02560194 51014
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – N6300Q Landing After Bird Strike
Photograph 2 – Right Wing Damage
Photograph 3 – Right Wing Damage
Photograph 4 – Right Wing Spar DamageThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on June 21, 2024. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | NTSB Mor - Interview with FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | 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 N6300Q 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.