# Accident 20210614007489A: Diamond Aircraft Ind Inc DA20-C1, Matthews, VA, June 14, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 14, 2021, 12:30 local time
- Place: Matthews, VA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.3717° N, 76.2283° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3717&lon=-76.2283&mi=10
- Aircraft: N458MA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N458MA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1 (registry code 2990001, https://openairdocs.org/model/diamond-aircraft-ind-da20-c1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IO-240-B (registry code 17177, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-240-b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DIAMOND AIRCRAFT IND INC DA20-C1
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR IO-240-B
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 997 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA21LA250](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA250) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210614007489A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT STATED HE WAS THE PIC FOR AN INSTRUMENT FAMILIARIZATION FLIGHT WITH A STUDENT. THEY WERE SIMULATING AN INSTRUMENT APPROACH INTO TANGIER ISLAND (KTGI). THEY WERE APPROXIMATELY HALFWAY ACROSS THE BAY AND RECEIVED INSTRUCTION FROM NORFOLK APPROACH CONTROL TO DESCEND FROM 5500 FT TO 2500 FT FOR MILITARY ACTIVITY IN THE MOA. WHILE CRUISING AT 2500 FT, THE PILOT NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGH AND ADDED SOME POWER. THIS RESOLVED THE ISSUE FOR A FEW MINUTES. THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH AGAIN. THE SECOND TIME HE ADDED POWER THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE PROPELLER LOCKED IN PLACE AND WAS NOT TURNING WITH THE WIND. THE PILOT STATED THE AIRCRAFT HAD PLENTY OF FUEL AND EVERYTHING WAS WITHIN NORMAL PARAMETERS. HE PITCHED THE AIRCRAFT FOR BEST GLIDE SPEED AND DECLARED AN EMERGENCY. HE SAID HIS BEST OPTION FOR LANDING WAS BEHIND HIM AND MADE A 180 TURN BACK TOWARD THE SHORE. HE WENT THROUGH HIS EMERGENCY RESTART PROCEDURES MULTIPLE TIMES AND COULD NOT GET THE AIRCRAFT RESTARTED. HE NOTICED A BOAT IN THE WATER AND ATTEMPTED TO DITCH AS CLOSE TO THE BOAT AS POSSIBLE. HE COMPLETED THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FOR A WATER LANDING AND DITCHED THE AIRCRAFT APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES SOUTHWEST OF WOLF TRAP LIGHTHOUSE. THE BOAT CAPTAIN MARKED THE COORDINATES OF THE CRASH WHEN HE WAS PICKING UP THE PILOTS.

## 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 ERA21LA250](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA250), Jun 14, 2021: Diamond DA20 (N458MA), Matthews, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The mechanic’s failure to properly secure the oil sump drain plug during a 100-hour maintenance inspection, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to oil starvation.

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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