# Accident 20180330010409A: Diamond Aircraft Ind Inc DA 40, Gila Bend, AZ, March 30, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 30, 2018, 15:47 local time
- Place: Gila Bend, AZ
- Airport: Gila Bend
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Ground/Ramp/Ma
- Operating rules: Pilot school (Part 141)
- Operator: B4VS
- Location: 32.9589° N, 112.6794° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9589&lon=-112.6794&mi=10
- Aircraft: N53SL, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N53SL) (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: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot, student
- Pilot flight hours: 206 total, 206 in this make and model, 76 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA18CA189](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA189) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180330010409A

## Narrative

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

ON MARCH 30, 2018, AROUND 1547 PDT, N53SL, DA-40 COLLIDED WITH A COVERED PARKING STRUCTURE WITH THE RIGHT WING WHICH RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LEADING EDGE OF THE OUTBOARD RIGHT WING. THE SOLO PILOT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES AND WAS OPERATING 14 CFR 141 FLIGHT LESSON. METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE EVENT.

## 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 GAA18CA189](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA189), Mar 30, 2018: Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40 (N53SL), Gila Bend, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to properly set the parking brake, which resulted in an impact with a pole.

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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