# Accident 20110815020499A: Diamond Aircraft Ind Inc DA 40, Hodgenville, KY, August 15, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 15, 2011, 15:35 local time
- Place: Hodgenville, KY
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.5450° N, 85.7331° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5450&lon=-85.7331&mi=10
- Aircraft: N316MA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N316MA-2012-03-19) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40 (registry code 2990002, https://openairdocs.org/model/diamond-aircraft-ind-da-40) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DIAMOND AIRCRAFT IND INC DA 40
- Reported engine: LYCOMING I0360 SER
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 3
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 4,600 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA11LA454](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA454) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110815020499A

## Narrative

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

N316MA, A DIAMOND DA-40, ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF FROM A GRASS FIELD THAT IS NOT A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) RECOGNIZED AIRPORT. UPON LIFT-OFF, THE LEFT WING OF THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TREE THAT WAS 40 FEET BEYOND THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND 10 FEET ABOVE THE FIELD ELEVATION. THE IMPACT CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO ROTATE LEFT AND SUBSEQUENTLY STRIKE AND CUT LOW TENSION POWER LINES. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND NOSE FIRST AND CAME TO REST UPRIGHT, FACING 180 DEGREES TO THE INITIAL DIRECTION OF DEPARTURE. THE GRASS FIELD IS 1,133 FEET LONG, WITH APPROXIMATELY A 1.5 DEGREE UP-SLOPE IN THE DIRECTION OF INTENDED TAKEOFF, AND TREES OF APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET AT THE END. THE TEMPERATURE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS 87 DEGREES FARENHEIT AND THE WINDS WERE APPROXIMATELY 3 KNOTS. THE AIRCRAFT ESTIMATED WEIGHT WAS UNDER GROSS AND WITHIN CENTER OF GRAVITY LIMITS. FAA APPROVED AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL (AFM) LIMITATIONS PRESCRIBE APPROXIMATELY 1,065 FEET REQUIRED FOR GROUND ROLL AND 1,525 FEET REQUIRED TO CLEAR A 50 FOOT OBSTACLE.  AFM LIMITATIONS INDICATE THAT THERE WAS NOT SUFFICIENT DISTANCE FOR THE PILOT TO TAKEOFF AND CLEAR OBSTACLES.

## 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 ERA11LA454](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA454), Aug 15, 2011: Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40 (N316MA), Hodgenville, KY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate takeoff performance planning, which resulted in collision with an obstacle during takeoff from a turf runway that was not long enough for the given conditions.

## Other reports on N316MA (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20041204034729I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041204034729I), Dec 4, 2004: Diamon DA40 (N316MA), Marine City, MI, Minor damage. (-23) Pilot statement as follows: incident took place at Marine City Airport in Marine City, Michigan. [privacy data omitted] Was the pilot in command of…
- [Accident 20040310004069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040310004069A), Mar 10, 2004: Diamon DA40 (N316MA), Bardstown, KY, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot, shawn honaker, lost control of the aircraft on landing at a Private grass strip. Aircraft departed off the side of the runway and came to a stop.…

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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