The flight instructor reported that, while the student pilot was flying on downwind to the airport in Chino, California, he noticed a bird approaching the Cessna 172.
He took the flight controls from the student and banked left, but the airplane hit the bird.
The airplane landed without further incident, but sustained substantial damage to the left wing.
The FAA Airport Facility Diagram page for the airport stated, in part: “Birds and wildlife on and invof [in vicinity of] arpt.”
Probable cause: An in-flight collision with a bird while on downwind.
NTSB Identification: GAA17CA573
This September 2017 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Two flying objects that collide are due to be a problem for both. A bird can crash through the windshield and injure the folks inside. Also most aircraft will not be able to maintain altitude with a broken windshield, even if the pilot can still see with any injury and wind-in-the-face.
The normal practice is to climb away from the bird, opposite its direction of flight.
Birds will dive when threatened, so climbing is more likely to avoid hitting it.
Really, Must be a slow day at the editors desk. What should we learn from this? Perhaps birds and planes cannot occupy the same space. Basic physics.
Unfortunately, the report does not mention whether or not they were flying in the pattern with all the exterior lights on. At my home airport I see Instructors with students spend hours in the pattern with no lights on, even on dark cloudy days. If you have lights use them, not only for birds, but other aircraft. Make yourself visible….