Aeropro Cz EUROFOX LSA accident near Punta Gorda, Florida, March 13, 2018
On March 13, 2018 at about 4:00 pm local time, a 2007 Aeropro Cz EUROFOX LSA, registered N989G, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Punta Gorda, Florida (Punta Gorda airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A collision with a large bird during approach.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 13, 2018 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Punta Gorda, Florida · Punta Gorda · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeropro Cz EUROFOX LSA NO SERIES, built 2007 · all EUROFOX LSAs on the register
- Registration
- N989G · registry record · serial 22407
- 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, during the approach to land, a turkey vulture impacted the airplane's front windshield. After the impact, he declared an emergency and landed the airplane without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the front windshield. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions 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 enroute defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on equipment
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Ability to respond/compensate
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: sport pilot
- Flight time: 4,069.3 hours in all; 2,695 in this make and model; 53.2 in the last 90 days; 18.2 in the last 30 days; 3,953.1 as pilot in command; 2,805.1 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 18, 2016
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,687 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 12, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 1,283 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912UL (piston); 705 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PGD Punta Gorda FL at 2:30 pm
- Destination: PGD Punta Gorda FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 04, 7,193 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 8 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from PGD, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket 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.