Piper PA-28-180 accident near Greenville, South Carolina, March 29, 2026
On March 29, 2026 at about 3:29 pm local time, a 1969 Piper PA-28-180, registered N2333R, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Greenville, South Carolina. 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 in-flight collision with a bird during cruise flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 29, 2026 · about 3:29 pm local time
- Place
- Greenville, South Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180, built 1969 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N2333R · registry record · serial 28-5491
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while in cruise flight at an altitude of about 1,800 ft, he heard a loud bang. After determining that the airplane was still flying normally, he looked at the right wing and saw damage to the outboard leading edge. He turned the airplane around, returned to the departure airport, and landed safely. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the right wing had been substantially damaged consistent with a bird strike.
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 (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 619 hours in all; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 503 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 17, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,182 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2026; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 5,840 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GMU Greenville SC at 3:20 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.61 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 am from KGYH, 6 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KGYH 291447Z 06010KT 10SM CLR 11/M07 A3061
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
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.