- Date
- October 21, 1997, 12:20 local (16:20 UTC)
- Place
- West Palm Beach, FL
- Injuries
- 2 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N534SSDiamond Aircraft Industries DA20-A1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 26, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19971021030779A
- Case key
- 3942
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's inadvertent use of the wrong runway, and his improper decision to continue the approach behind a large airplane (MD-80), which resulted in a wake turbulence encounter, loss of aircraft control, and collision with terrain.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
According to the pilot of a small airplane (Diamond Aircraft Industries DA20-A1) he was cleared to land on 27R. While on final approach at about 200 feet, a large airplane (MD-80) passed close to him on the right. The controller warned the pilot of possible wake turbulence. The airplane then rolled and crashed into the ground. During an investigation, an FAA inspector stated (and air traffic control audio tapes confirmed) that the pilot had been cleared to land on runway 27L, and he had been advised that his traffic was an MD-80, landing on 27R. After being cleared to land on 27L, the airplane deviated towards runway 27R. The FAA inspector stated that air traffic controllers observed the nose of the airplane go up, then the airplane rolled left and impacted the ground in a left wing low and partially inverted attitude.
Factual narrative
On October 21, 1997, about 1220 eastern daylight time, a Diamond Aircraft Industries DA20-A1, N534SS, collided with the ground between runways 27L and 27R while on approach to the Palm Beach International Airport, West Palm Beach, Florida. The airplane was operated by the private pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions existed, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot and one passenger sustained serious injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight originated from Melbourne, Florida at 1100.
The pilot stated that he passed over the airport and was told by air traffic control to expect 27R. After being vectored, he stated he was cleared to land on 27R. While on final approach at 200 feet, a MD-80 passed close to him on the right. The controller warned the pilot of possible wake turbulence. The airplane then rolled upside down and crashed into the ground.
The FAA inspector stated, and air traffic control audio tapes confirmed, that the airplane was cleared to land on runway 27L, and given the traffic, an MD-80, landing on 27R. After being cleared to land on 27L, the airplane was observed deviating towards 27R. The FAA inspector stated that the air traffic controllers observed the nose of the airplane go up and then the airplane rolled left, impacting the ground left wing low and partially inverted.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N534SS
- Reported as
- Diamond Aircraft Industries DA20-A1
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 10108
- Airframe hours
- 721
- Engine
- Rotax 912F3, 80 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Erik Richard Lindqvist
- Registered owner
- Mdfc Equipment Leasing Corp
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 13, 1997 · 31 hours before
- Departed
- MLB · Melbourne, FL
- Airport
- PBI · Palm Beach International, runway 27L, 7,989 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 22
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 80 total · 55 in this make and model · 31 as pilot in command · 80 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PBI, 1 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.