# NTSB ERA09CA341: Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40, N659PS, West Chester, PA, June 13, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 13, 2009, 08:30 local (12:30 UTC)
- Place: West Chester, PA
- Coordinates: 39.990001, -75.581947
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9900&lon=-75.5819&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 9, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74032
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA341
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74032/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74032
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA341

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s improper recovery from a bounced landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate remedial action.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=2990002), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/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 DA 40, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2990002), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)
- [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2990002), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2990002), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Post-impact: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2990002), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The certificated flight instructor and his student remained in the airport traffic pattern to practice several full-stop landings. While on approach the student flared high and the airplane dropped 8 to 10 feet, contacting the 3,375-foot-long by 50-foot-wide runway and then bouncing back into the air. While the pilot initiated a go-around, the airplane drifted left of the runway and the airplane's left wing impacted trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wing spar and came to rest on the edge of the runway. Neither the flight instructor nor the student reported any mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane.

## Factual narrative

The certificated flight instructor and his student remained in the airport traffic pattern to practice several full-stop landings. While on approach, the student flared high and the airplane dropped 8 to 10 feet contacted the 3,375-foot-long by 50-foot-wide runway, and then bounced back into the air. While initiating a go-around, the airplane drifted left of the runway, and the airplane's left wing impacted trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wing spar, and came to rest on the edge of the runway. Neither the flight instructor nor the student reported any mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N659PS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N659PS-2013-06-12), registration cancelled 2013-06-12, S/N 40.659, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DIAMOND AIRCRAFT IND INC DA 40
- Registry model: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40](https://openairdocs.org/model/diamond-aircraft-ind-da-40) (registry code 2990002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-M1A+](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-m1a-plus) (registry code 41869, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 40.659
- Airframe hours: 89
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-MIA+ 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 9, 2008
- Departed: OQN, West Chester, PA
- Destination: OQN, West Chester, PA
- Airport: OQN, Brandywine, runway 09, 3,347 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 26, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 10,000 total, 12 in this make and model
- Student pilot; age 53; injuries: none; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 53 total, 19 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observed at: KMQS, 13 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 20090613009959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090613009959A), Jun 13, 2009: Diamon DA40, West Chester, PA, Substantial damage. (-23) CFI william king stated aircraft N659PS landing on runway 09 at brandwine airport, PA landed hard and bounced several feet in the air. Full power was…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 24, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74032. 1.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314931&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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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