# NTSB CEN09CA300: Diamond DA20, N926AF, Olathe, KS, May 14, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 14, 2009, 12:11 local (17:11 UTC) - Place: Olathe, KS - Coordinates: 38.821945, -94.734443 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8219&lon=-94.7344&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 9, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Diamond Aircraft, FAA Kansas City FSDO, Teledyne Continental Motors - NTSB case key (mKey): 73843 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA300 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73843/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73843 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA300 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper landing flare and recovery from a bounced landing, as well as his improper decision to continue the takeoff after striking the propeller on the runway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis During a planned touch-and-go landing, the student pilot flared too high and the airplane landed hard, bounced, and the propeller struck the runway. The student pilot executed a go-around. During the climbout, at approximately 250 feet above ground level, the engine lost power. The student pilot executed a straight-ahead forced landing, during which the airplane's right wing and horizontal stabilizer were separated. The airplane subsequently nosed over, coming to rest inverted in a tree line. The student pilot, who was trapped in the inverted airplane, was extracted 30 minutes later by emergency response crews; he sustained minor injuries. A serviceable propeller was later installed and the airplane's engine was successfully tested for over 20 minutes, including several minutes at full power. ## Factual narrative During a planned touch and go landing, the student pilot flared too high and the airplane landed hard, bounced, and the propeller struck the runway. The student pilot executed a go-around. During the climbout, at approximately 250 feet agl, the engine lost power. The student pilot executed a straight ahead forced landing, during which the airplane's right wing and horizontal stabilizer were separated. The airplane subsequently nosed over coming to rest inverted in a tree line. The student pilot, who was trapped in the inverted airplane, was extracted 30 minutes later by emergency response crews. He sustained minor injuries. A serviceable propeller was later installed and the airplane's engine was test run for over 20 minutes, including several minutes at full power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N926AF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N926AF), registered now, S/N C0183, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DIAMOND DA20 (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-B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-240-b) (registry code 17177, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: C0183 - Airframe hours: 3561 - Engines: Continental IO-240-B3B 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Kansas City Aviation Center Inc - Registered owner: Kansas City Aviation Center Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 17, 2009, 46 hours before - Departed: KOJC, Olathe, KS - Destination: KOJC, Olathe, KS - Airport: KOJC, Johnson County Airport, runway 18, 4,099 × 75 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 68; injuries: serious; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 214 total, 10 in this make and model, 45 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 0 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: KOJC, 2 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 20090514007959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090514007959A), May 14, 2009: Diamon DA20C1, Olathe, KS, Destroyed. (-23) On return from a local solo flight in the practice area conducted under visual flight rules, [privacy data omitted], a student pilot, was practicing… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 24, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73843. 1.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314927&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 187 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314928&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Reports from Federal Agencies - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 3, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314932&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies%20-%20FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF 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.