Piper PA28 accident near Cochran, Georgia, July 10, 2024
On July 10, 2024 at about 2:50 pm local time, a 2020 Piper PA28, registered N268MG, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern downwind) near Cochran, Georgia (Cochran 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
The airplane’s impact with a bird resulting in substantial damage to the right wing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 10, 2024 · about 2:50 pm local time
- Place
- Cochran, Georgia · Cochran · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28 181, built 2020 · all PA28s on the register
- Registration
- N268MG · registry record · serial 2881366
- 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 traffic pattern he saw two large birds. He stated “birds” to his student, took the controls, and attempted to avoid the birds. One of the birds impacted the leading edge of the right wing resulting in substantial damage. The flight instructor subsequently landed the airplane without further incident. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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 equipment
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,048.1 hours in all; 1,172.8 in this make and model; 74.5 in the last 90 days; 18.6 in the last 30 days; 1,940.8 as pilot in command; 1,580.5 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 12, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 326.6 hours in all; 267.8 in this make and model; 8.5 in the last 90 days; 2.1 in the last 30 days; 271.9 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 5, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,075 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 3, 2024; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 583 hours total
- Operator: Middle Georgia State University
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 4,400 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,600 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 am from EZM, 13 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KEZM 101455Z AUTO 28005KT 10SM SCT026 29/23 A3001 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photog rap h 1 – Ove rvie w of the airp lane . (Courte sy of FAA)
Photog rap h 2 – Vie w of the d amag e to the rig ht wing . (Courte sy of FAA)
Photog rap h 3 – Vie w of the d amag e to the rig ht wing . (Courte sy of FAA)The 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 September 4, 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Flight Instructor Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 4 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.
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.