# NTSB ATL04LA022: Diamond DA 20-C1, N575MT, Murfreesboro, TN, October 22, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 21, 2003, 21:33 local (Oct 22, 2003, 02:33 UTC) - Place: Murfreesboro, TN - Coordinates: 35.877223, -86.377502 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8772&lon=-86.3775&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Nashville FSDO - 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 58223 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL04LA022 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58223/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA022 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain adequate airspeed, which resulted in a stall mush and collision with a taxiway sign. A factor was the pilot's delay in aborting the landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - aborted - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - aborted landing - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - airport sign/marker ## Analysis The pilot set up for a straight-in approach to runway 36. During the landing, the airplane initially contacted the runway with its nose wheel, then bounced up and continued down the runway. The pilot used rudder control input to maintain centerline. He stated he realized he was running out of runway and intended to initiate a go-around, but the airplane settled back to the runway, the left main wheel touched down, and the airplane skidded left. The pilot's efforts to regain control of the airplane were unsuccessful, and it skidded left off the runway, struck an airport sign for taxiway A, and came to rest on the north end of the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed the right main landing gear was separated, and the propeller was damaged. Cracks were observed on the composite wing structure and on the composite fuselage near the gear attachment block. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction with the airplane. Examination of the runway revealed a gouge in the asphalt on the north end of runway 36, near the numbers for the approach end of runway 18. ## Factual narrative On October 21, 2003, at 2133 central daylight time, a Diamond Aircraft DA 20-C1, N575MT, registered to and operated by Middle Tennessee State University, veered off the runway during landing at Murfreesboro Municipal Airport, Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with a visual flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The private pilot reported no injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight departed Huntsville International Airport, Huntsville, Alabama, at 2000 October 21, 2003. The pilot initially departed Murfreesboro Municipal Airport about 1920 and flew to Huntsville, where he stopped and planned his return flight. He departed Huntsville and performed straight-in touch-and-go landings in Fayetteville, Tennessee, and Shelbyville, Tennessee. The pilot then proceeded to Murfreesboro and set up for a straight-in approach to runway 36. The pilot stated the approach was normal, but during the landing, the airplane initially contacted the runway with its nose wheel, then bounced up and continued down the runway. The pilot used rudder control input to maintain centerline. He stated he realized he was running out of runway and intended to initiate a go-around, but the airplane settled back to the runway, the left main wheel touched down, and the airplane yawed and skidded left. The pilot's efforts to regain control of the airplane were unsuccessful, and it skidded left off the runway, struck the airport sign for taxiway A, and came to rest at the north end of runway 36. Examination of the airplane revealed the right main landing gear was separated, and the propeller was damaged. Cracks were observed on the composite wing structure and on the composite fuselage near the gear attachment block. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction with the airplane. Examination of the runway revealed a gouge in the asphalt on the north end of runway 36, near the numbers for the approach end of runway 18. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N575MT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N575MT-2008-07-31), registration cancelled 2008-07-31, S/N C0221, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Diamond Aircraft DA 20-C1 - Registry model: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1](https://openairdocs.org/model/diamond-aircraft-ind-da20-c1) (registry code 2990001) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-240 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-240-series) (registry code 17063, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: C0221 - Airframe hours: 265 - Engines: Teledyne Continental IO-240 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Middle Tennessee State University - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 6, 2003, 65 hours before - Departed: HSV, Huntsville, AL - Destination: MBT - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: KMBT, Murfreesboro Municipal, runway 36, 3,898 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 19; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 25, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 74 total, 19 in this make and model, 20 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 270° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: KBNA, 21 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20031021027359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031021027359A), Oct 21, 2003: Diamon DA20C1, Murfreesboro, TN, Substantial damage. (-23) On October 22, 2003 an on-scene investigation, along with a pilot interview determined the following narrative statement. The pilot was completing a… 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. --- 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.