# Accident 20230721010199A: Diamond Aircraft Ind Inc DA 40, Roanoke, VA, July 21, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 21, 2023, 10:02 local time
- Place: Roanoke, VA
- Airport: Roanoke Blacksburg Regional Ai
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.3275° N, 79.9763° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3275&lon=-79.9763&mi=10
- Aircraft: N524DS, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N524DS) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40 (registry code 2990002, https://openairdocs.org/model/diamond-aircraft-ind-da-40) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DIAMOND AIRCRAFT IND INC DA 40
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 324 total, 303 in this make and model, 44 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA23LA312](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA312) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230721010199A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT IN COMMAND STATED HE WAS INSTRUCTING A STUDENT ON MILD CROSSWIND LANDINGS ON RUNWAY 24 AT ROANOKE AIRPORT. THE INSTRUCTOR HAD FLOWN WITH THIS STUDENT ONCE BEFORE, PREVIOUSLY INSTRUCTING HIM ON LANDINGS IN THE PATTERN.

THE STUDENT AND INSTRUCTOR COMPLETED THE FIRST LAP IN THE PATTERN AND PERFORMED A GO AROUND AS INSTRUCTED BY THE INSTRUCTOR. THE FIRST LAP IN THE PATTERN AND GO AROUND WAS UNEVENTFUL.

ON THE SECOND LAP IN THE PATTERN, THE STUDENT PERFORMED A STABILIZED APPROACH, CRABBED INTO THE WIND AS NORMAL (LIGHT RIGHT CROSSWIND), APPLYING LEFT RUDDER TO STRAIGHTEN THE NOSE TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY CENTERLINE ON RUNWAY 24. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS OVER THE LANDING AREA, THE STUDENT CONTINUED TO PRESS ON THE LEFT RUDDER WHICH CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO CONTINUE TO TURN LEFT, OFFSETTING THE AIRCRAFT FROM THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE. BEFORE THE WHEELS TOUCHED, THE STUDENT CONTINUED TO ADD LEFT RUDDER PULLING THE NOSE FURTHER TO THE LEFT. THE INSTRUCTOR ORDERED A GO AROUND, BUT AT THAT POINT, THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOO LOW TO THE GROUND AND THE INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT HAD ALREADY LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER THE WHEELS TOUCHED THE GROUND. THE WHEELS IMPACTED THE RUNWAY CAUSING A HARD LANDING, BOUNCING THE AIRCRAFT TOWARDS THE LEFT. THE AIRCRAFT BANKED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT CAUSING THE LEFT WING TO DROP LOW TO THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT THEN BANKED TO THE RIGHT CAUSING THE RIGHT WING TO DROP IMPACTING THE GRASS AREA BETWEEN THE RUNWAY AND TAXIWAY. THIS CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT'S NOSE TO DROP AND IMPACT THE GRASS SURFACE. THE AIRCRAFT SPUN 360 DEGREES ON THE SURFACE CAUSING EVEN MORE DAMAGE. THE AIRCRAFT ULTIMATELY SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

## 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 ERA23LA312](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA312), Jul 21, 2023: Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40 (N524DS), Roanoke, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing, and the flight instructor’s inadequate remedial action.

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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