Piper PA-46-350P accident near Brooksville, Florida, May 11, 2003
On May 11, 2003 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-46-350P, registered N7KH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brooksville, Florida. 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 in-flight collision with a Black Vulture resulting in substantial damage.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 2003 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Brooksville, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-46-350P · all PA-46-350Ps on the register
- Registration
- N7KH · no longer on the register · serial 4636176
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that after takeoff he performed airwork for approximately 1 hour then proceeded direct to the Hernando County Airport where he performed 2 or 3 practice instrument approaches. During climb out at 2,000 feet between 110 and 120 knots following another practice instrument approach, he noted a large bird fly past the windshield. He then felt an impact but there was no discrepancy with the flight controls. As the flight lesson was nearly complete, the flight proceeded to the departure airport where the airplane was landed uneventfully. The airplane was secured, then visually inspected which revealed a dent in the leading edge of the left horizontal stabilizer. He remained overnight at the airport, then departed the following day for an airport located along the east coast of Florida. The safety pilot reported that she was flying with the pilot to complete his annual recurrent training and after the initial departure proceeded to the Hernando County Airport to practice instrument approaches. The pilot-in-command had been holding at the published holding intersection (AZBOG), departed the holding pattern, began climbing, and while flying at 2,500 feet mean sea level and 120 knots indicated airspeed, collided with a bird. No effect on flight controls was noted and the flight proceeded to the initial departure airport where after landing, the external damage was noted. Examination of the airplane revealed the leading edge of the left horizontal stabilizer was crushed up near left butt line 38.177. Inspection revealed that canted frame assembly (p/n 84246-800), located at fuselage station 311.382, was torn adjacent to the forward attach bolt of the left horizontal stabilizer. Additionally, an angle (p/n 84218-2), which is riveted to and part of the canted frame assembly exhibited a section missing below and outboard of the forward attach bolt of the left horizontal stabilizer. Evidence of displacement between the forward attach bolt of the left horizontal stabilizer and the canted frame assembly was noted. Personnel from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History identified the bird to be the Black Vulture (Coryagyps atratus), which has a weight range between 42-75 ounces.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 60 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 6,400 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 11, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,511 hours in all; 2,335 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 4,277 as pilot in command; 2,724 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 16, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 603 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 27, 2003; 18.8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,318 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AE2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KPIE St. Petersburg FL at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KBKV
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N7KH 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.