# NTSB ERA09CA461: Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40, N817PA, Rockingham, NC, August 11, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 11, 2009, 16:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Rockingham, NC - Coordinates: 34.891109, -79.759445 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8911&lon=-79.7594&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 9, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA Charlotte FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74517 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA461 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74517/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74517 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA461 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control on landing roll out. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot entered left closed traffic, completed the before landing check, and extended the flaps to 10 degrees. He turned the airplane on base, final, and lowered the flaps to the full down position with a right cross wind. The pilot flared the airplane about 30 feet above the runway numbers and touched down on the runway. The airplane started to veer to the left and the pilot stated that he lost directional control of the airplane. The airplane went off the left side of the runway striking a runway light, continued into the grass, and collided with an embankment, receiving structural damage to the airframe. The pilot stated there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Factual narrative The pilot entered left closed traffic, completed the before landing check, and extended the flaps to 10 degrees. He turned the airplane on base, final, and lowered the flaps to the full down position with a right cross wind. The pilot flared the airplane about 30 feet above the runway numbers and touched down on the runway. The airplane started to veer to the left and the pilot stated he lost directional control of the airplane. The airplane went off the left side of the runway striking a runway light, continued into the grass, and collided with an embankment, receiving structural damage to the airframe. The pilot stated there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: N817PA (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: DIAMOND AIRCRAFT IND INC DA 40 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 40.817 - Airframe hours: 849 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-MIA+ 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Paramount Flight Services - Registered owner: Air Link Properties LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 6, 2009, 38 hours before - Departed: RCZ, Rockingham, NC - Destination: RCZ, Rockingham, NC - Airport: RCZ, Richmond County Airport, runway 31, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 7, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 571 total, 36 in this make and model, 499 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 11 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: RCZ ## 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 20090811048199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090811048199A), Aug 11, 2009: Diamond Air DA 40, Rockingham, NC, Destroyed. The PIC was attempting to land with N817PA on runway 31 with winds from 160 at 11 knots gusting to 15, this according to the fss for that area at that time.… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 21, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74517. 4.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319118&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector E Mail (item 2, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317421&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20E%20Mail-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - View of accident airplane at rest. Photo FAA (item 3, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317422&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20View%20of%20accident%20airplane%20at%20rest.%20Photo%20FAA-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.