# Accident 20070511015089A: Diamon DA40, Lake Pleasant, AZ, May 11, 2007

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 11, 2007, 20:02 local time
- Place: Lake Pleasant, AZ
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.8742° N, 112.2875° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8742&lon=-112.2875&mi=10
- Aircraft: N512DS, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N512DS-2012-10-02) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40 (registry code 2990002, https://openairdocs.org/model/diamond-aircraft-ind-da-40) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-360-M1A+ (registry code 41869, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-m1a-plus) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DIAMON DA40
- Reported engine: LYC IO360M1A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 10,000 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX07FA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07FA160) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070511015089A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) WITNESSES OBSERVED N512DS TRAVELING NORTH OVER THE DAM LOCATED AT THE SOUTH END OF LAKE PLEASANT. AS N512DS WAS OVER THE DAM ALL LIGHTS ON THE AIRCRAFT CEASED TO OPERATE. THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED TO A LOW ALTITUDE ESTIMATED TO BE 20 TO 30 FEET ABOVE THE SURFACE OF THE WATER. N512DS PROCEEDED OVER A BOAT WITH TWO OCCUPANTS (A FRIEND, WHO IS THE BOAT OWNER, AND A COMPANION) AT AN ALTITUDE DESCRIBED AS 8 TO 10 FEET. N512DS THEN MADE A STEEP BANK LEFT TURN TO A SOUTHERLY HEADING PASSING TO THE WEST OF THE SAME BOAT. N512DS FLEW OUT OF SIGHT HEADING SOUTH. AT 2002 MST THE BOAT OWNER RECEIVED A CALL ON HIS CELLULAR PHONE FROM THE PILOT OF N512DS ASKING HIM TO SHINE A FLASHLIGHT IN THE AIR. AS THE FRIEND WAS RETRIEVING THE FLASHLIGHT HE HEARD THE ENGINE OF N512DS APPROACHING. WHEN HE TURNED TO SHINE THE LIGHT HE OBSERVED N512DS IN A STEEP RIGHT BANK, TURNING NORTH TO NORTHEAST TOWARD THE BOAT, VERY LOW TO THE SURFACE OF THE WATER. AS N512DS TURNED IN THE DIRECTION OF THE BOAT, THE RIGHT WING MADE CONTACT WITH THE WATER. N512DS, OF MOSTLY COMPOSITE CONSTRUCTION, WAS DESTROYED AS IT IMPACTED THE WATER. SOME DEBRIS WAS RECOVERED AT THE SURFACE DURING THE SEARCH AND RESCUE PHASE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX07FA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07FA160), May 12, 2007: Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 40 (N512DS), Lake Pleasant, AZ, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient altitude above the surface of water during an intentional buzzing maneuver. Contributing to the accident was the nighttime lighting environment.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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