The pilot of a Glasair Sportsman GS-2 was temporarily blinded after his aircraft took a direct hit from a wedge-tailed eagle at 5,500 feet. Wedge-tailed eagles typically weigh between seven and eight pounds. The incident, reported by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), serves as another reminder of the substantial damage and adverse effects to an aircraft’s performance and handling qualities that can result from a bird strike.
Pilot Blinded in Bird Strike
Key Takeaways:
- A pilot was seriously injured and temporarily blinded when a wedge-tailed eagle struck and broke through the windscreen of his Glasair Sportsman GS-2 at 5,500 feet.
- Despite the impact causing a rapid descent and the pilot's incapacitation, he managed to regain control, transmit a MAYDAY, and safely land the damaged aircraft.
- The incident serves as a stark reminder of the significant damage, adverse effects on aircraft performance, and potential for pilot injury that bird strikes can cause.
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