This incident involves a near-collision requiring immediate evasive action during a routine training flight in controlled airspace near a VOR navigational aid. The object was stationary at 4,500 feet with no visible means of propulsion or aerodynamic surfaces.

The witness filed an official ASRS report with NASA, indicating he treated the encounter as a legitimate safety-of-flight event.

On May 22, 2022, at approximately 1200 local time, a flight instructor was conducting a training flight near the CSN VOR at 4,500 feet. The student was at the controls completing clearing turns to set up for a practice maneuver when the instructor caught a glimpse of an object off the nose of the aircraft.

The instructor immediately took the controls and executed an abrupt evasive maneuver to avoid a collision. The object did not resemble an airplane or helicopter. It had no wings or rotors and was completely stationary. As the aircraft passed the object in a turn-around-a-point fashion, the instructor was able to observe it closely but could not identify what it was.

The object appeared dark grey or black with no reflective glinting. Its shape resembled a vertical dumbbell or engine block, approximately the size of a small car. After the encounter, the instructor resumed the training flight in a safe direction away from the object.

Following the incident, the witness filed an ASRS report with NASA. He received a callback but was unavailable. When he returned the call, he was told the follow-up was "no longer necessary."

General Aviation

A flight instructor conducting a training flight near the CSN VOR at 4,500 feet took evasive action to avoid a stationary, unidentified object. The object was dark grey or black, shaped like a vertical dumbbell or engine block, approximately the size of a small car. The witness filed an ASRS report with NASA following the encounter.

General aviation pilot and flight instructor. Student pilot was also present at the controls during clearing turns when the object was spotted.

Report ID: GEN-2022-97

Summary

Witness Background

Event Narrative

Analyst Notes

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