# Accident 20121210028619A: Diamond Aircraft Ind Inc DA 40, Lake Park, GA, December 10, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 10, 2012, 19:50 local time
- Place: Lake Park, GA
- Airport: Valdosta Regional
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.7136° N, 83.1822° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7136&lon=-83.1822&mi=10
- Aircraft: N840DS, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N840DS-2016-03-24) (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: DIAMOND AIRCRAFT IND INC DA 40
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-360-MIA+
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 208 total, 122 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA13FA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13FA083) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121210028619A

## Narrative

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

BY EVIDENCE OF THE CRASH SITE THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO HAVE HAD A CONTROLLED FLIGHT INTO THE TREES AND THE GROUND AT A LOW ANGLE AND HIGH VELOCITY DESTROYING THE AIRCRAFT AND FATALY INJURING THE PILOT.

## 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 ERA13FA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13FA083), Dec 11, 2012: Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40 (N840DS), Lake Park, GA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The noninstrument-rated pilot’s improper decision to depart in dark, night marginal visual flight rules conditions, which resulted in his spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of airplane…

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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