# NTSB ERA15CA243: Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 20 C1, N353DC, Moreland, GA, June 17, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 17, 2015, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Moreland, GA - Coordinates: 33.279872, -84.769424 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2799&lon=-84.7694&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 11, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 91395 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15CA243 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91395/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91395 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA243 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's inaccurate fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Approach: 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) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor stated that he and the private pilot receiving instruction had planned a long cross-country flight to build flight time. The cross-country flight was uneventful and they landed back at their home airport; however, they performed a touch-and-go to fly more and practice instrument approaches. After two approaches, the pilots were again approaching their home airport when the engine lost all power. The flight instructor was unable to restart the engine and performed a forced landing to a field. He further stated that he had miscalculated fuel consumption and that the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the right wing. The inspector noted that the single fuel tank remained intact and was absent of fuel. One gallon of fuel was then added to the fuel tank and the engine started without hesitation and ran continuously. The inspector stated that according to Hobbs time, the airplane was operated for 3.6 hours since its last fueling. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor stated that he and the private pilot receiving instruction had planned a long cross-country flight to build flight time. The cross-country flight was uneventful and they landed back at their home airport; however, they performed a touch-and-go to fly more and practice instrument approaches. After two approaches, the pilots were again approaching their home airport when the engine lost all power. The flight instructor was unable to restart the engine and performed a forced landing to a field. He further stated that he had miscalculated fuel consumption and that the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the right wing. The inspector noted that the single fuel tank remained intact and was absent of fuel. One gallon of fuel was then added to the fuel tank and the engine started without hesitation and ran continuously. The inspector stated that according to Hobbs time, the airplane was operated for 3.6 hours since its last fueling. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N353DC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N353DC-2019-03-19), registration cancelled 2019-03-19, S/N C0353, built 2005 (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) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-240-B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-240-b) (registry code 17177, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: C0353 - Year built: 2005 - Airframe hours: 4227 - Engines: Continental IO-240 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Falcon Aviation Academy - Registered owner: Scc Aviation Holdings LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, June 25, 2015, 48 hours before - Departed: CCO, Moreland, GA - Destination: CCO, Moreland, GA - Airport: CCO, Newnan County Airport - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 50; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 21, 2014; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,105 total, 451 in this make and model, 927 as pilot in command, 174 in the last 90 days, 64 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 24; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 18, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 70 total, 70 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: CCO, 5 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 20150617020279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150617020279A), Jun 17, 2015: Diamond Aircraft Ind Inc DA20-C1, Newnan, GA, Substantial damage. The pilot was receiving instrument flight instruction from the flight instructor, the student and instructor planned a cross country flight from Newnan airport… ## Other investigations on N353DC (1) 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. - [NTSB ERA14CA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA095), Jan 16, 2014: Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 20 C1 (N353DC), Milledgeville, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilots inadequate landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 30, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91395. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430126&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversations (item 2, .PDF, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430127&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversations-Master.PDF - Weather Report (item 3, .PDF, 33 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430128&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-Master.PDF - Photo 1 – Main Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 104 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430129&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Main%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%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.