Primary finding
Probable cause
The inflight collision with multiple geese during initial climb.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The flight instructor and his student were conducting an instructional flight in night visual meteorological conditions and in the airport traffic pattern when the airplane collided with multiple geese during initial climb. The flight instructor made an uneventful landing following the bird strike. The airplane’s right-wing leading edge and main spar were substantially damaged during the bird strike.