Cessna 152 accident near Pierson, Florida, October 22, 2003
On October 22, 2003 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N94445, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pierson, Florida. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
In flight collision with a bird, resulting in airplane not being able to maintain altitude and nosing over during a forced landing on unsuitable terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 22, 2003 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pierson, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N94445 · no longer on the register · serial 15285671
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A student pilot was practicing ground maneuvers near Lake Disston, located near Pierson, Florida, while coming out of a left turn at 1,000 feet and an indicated airspeed of 90 knots the airplane experienced a bird strike. The CFI stated the windshield was missing and he could not maintain altitude after he applied full throttle. He declared an emergency and secured the engine. The airplane impacted the intended landing field nose first and came to a halt inverted. A representative from the Smithsonian Institution identified the bird as a Black Vulture, which has a weight range between 42 and 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
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: 571 hours in all; 183 in this make and model; 127 in the last 90 days; 59 in the last 30 days; 515 as pilot in command; 374 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 30, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 51 hours in all; 51 in this make and model; 51 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,918.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 27, 2003; 49.1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-N2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Phoenix East Aviation Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: KDAB Daytona Beach FL at 2:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
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.
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.