# Accident 20231221019699A: Diamond Aircraft Ind Inc DA 40, Spanish Fork, UT, December 21, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 21, 2023, 17:00 local time
- Place: Spanish Fork, UT
- Airport: Spanish Fork Municipal/Woodhouse Fl
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.1412° N, 111.6624° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1412&lon=-111.6624&mi=10
- Aircraft: N453DS, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N453DS) (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-M1A+
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 149 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR24LA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA064) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231221019699A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE AT CRUISE FLIGHT HE HEARD A LOUD BANG AND THEN SAW SMOKE AND FLAMES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, ALONG WITH ITEMS BLOWING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY DESCENT TO THE AIRPORT. UPON LANDING THE AIRCRAFT GEAR COLLAPSED. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER EXITED THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DUE TO THE ENGINE EXPLOSION AND FIRE, AND THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSE ON LANDING. THE PILOT WAS PROPERLY CERTIFICATED FOR THE FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT REQUIRED INSPECTION RECORDS ARE CURRENT.

## 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 WPR24LA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA064), Dec 21, 2023: Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40 (N453DS), Spanish Fork, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: Maintenance personnel’s improper installation of the left magneto, which resulted in oil starvation to the engine and a subsequent total loss of engine power.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.