# NTSB ERA10CA173: Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 20-C1, N365DC, Mount Sterling, KY, March 6, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 6, 2010, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Mount Sterling, KY - Coordinates: 38.058055, -83.979721 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0581&lon=-83.9797&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 1, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75479 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA173 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75479/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75479 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA173 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during a touch-and-go. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) - [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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: 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) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The accident flight was the student pilot’s first solo cross-country flight, and she planned to perform a touch-and-go before proceeding to the next intended destination. The landing proceeded uneventfully, but when the pilot applied engine power for takeoff, the airplane began turning to the left. The pilot attempted to correct by increasing right rudder, but the airplane continued left and departed the side of the runway. The airplane proceeded through the grass adjacent to the runway, across the taxiway, and into the grass again before the pilot decreased the engine power. As the airplane slowed, the nose landing gear dug into the ground before it separated, resulting in substantial damage to the firewall area. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane and that the wind velocity at the time of the accident was 4 knots. ## Factual narrative The accident flight was the student pilot’s first solo cross-country flight, and she planned to perform a touch-and-go before proceeding to the next intended destination. The landing proceeded uneventfully, but when the pilot applied engine power for takeoff, the airplane began turning to the left. The pilot attempted to correct by increasing right rudder, but the airplane continued left and departed the side of the runway. The airplane proceeded through the grass adjacent to the runway, across the taxiway, and into the grass again before the pilot decreased the engine power. As the airplane slowed, the nose landing gear dug into the ground before it separated, resulting in substantial damage to the firewall area. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane, and that the wind velocity at the time of the accident was 4 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: N365DC (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: DIAMOND AIRCRAFT IND INC DA 20-C1 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: C0462 - Airframe hours: 811 - Engines: Teledyne Continental Motors IO-240-B 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Air 51 Richmond LLC - Registered owner: Air 51 Richmond LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 9, 2010 - Departed: IOB, Mount Sterling, KY - Destination: LOZ, London, KY - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: IOB, Mount Sterling Airport, runway 03, 5,002 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 18; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 27 total, 25 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.34 inHg - Observed at: LEX, 29 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 20100306029299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100306029299A), Mar 6, 2010: Diamond Air DA 20-C1, Mt Sterling, KY, Substantial damage. On 03-06-2010 at approx 3:00 p.m., N365DC,a Diamond DA-20-C1, was being flown solo by a student pilot in the FAR part 141 flight program for eastern KY univ.… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 14, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75479. 448 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 425 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327187&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327188&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-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. --- 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.