# NTSB CEN09CA304: Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 20-C1, N169PA, San Antonio, TX, May 10, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 10, 2009, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: San Antonio, TX
- Coordinates: 29.336944, -98.471107
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3369&lon=-98.4711&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: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 9, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73861
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA304
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73861/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73861
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA304

## Probable cause

The instructor pilot’s improper landing flare.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [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)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

During a crosswind landing demonstration to a student pilot, the instructor pilot initiated a landing flare. When the airplane's altitude rose, the instructor pilot, "held the flare and added approximately 50-100 rpm to ease the airplane" down to the runway. The airplane then "experienced a sudden descent," and the instructor pilot attempted a go-around; however, the airplane's left wing and nose impacted the runway, causing substantial damage to the airplane.

## Factual narrative

During a crosswind landing demonstration to a student pilot, the instructor pilot initiated a landing flare. When the airplane's altitude rose, the instructor pilot, "held the flare and added approximately 50-100 rpm to ease the airplane" down to the runway. The airplane then "experienced a sudden descent", and the instructor pilot attempted a go-around; however, the airplane's left wing and nose impacted the runway causing substantial damage to the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N169PA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N169PA-2017-07-06), registration cancelled 2017-07-06, S/N C0270 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DIAMOND AIRCRAFT IND INC DA 20-C1
- Registry model: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1](https://openairdocs.org/model/diamond-aircraft-ind-da20-c1) (registry code 2990001) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: C0270
- Airframe hours: 1256
- Engines: Continental IO-240 125 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Flying Monsters Inc
- Registered owner: Flying Monsters Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: KSSF, San Antonio, TX
- Destination: KSSF, San Antonio, TX
- Airport: KSSF, Stinson Municipal Airport, runway 14, 4,128 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 42; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 17, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 475 total, 22 in this make and model
- Student pilot; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: right; flight hours: 15 total, 10 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 12 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observed at: KSSF

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 24, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73861. 684 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 649 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315093&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 35 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315094&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-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.

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