# NTSB ERA23LA140: Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40 NG, N871LA, Lake Katrine, NY, February 6, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 6, 2023, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Lake Katrine, NY - Coordinates: 41.983527, -73.962383 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9835&lon=-73.9624&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: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 106837 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA140 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106837/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106837 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA140 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain an appropriate pitch attitude and descent rate during landing, which resulted in a hard 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. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40 NG, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2990014), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40 NG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=2990014), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/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 NG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2990014), [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 NG, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2990014), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor and the pilot receiving instruction were practicing short field landings. After an initial unsuccessful approach, the pilot conducted a go-around and set up for another landing approach. The flight instructor described that after passing over obstacles while on short final approach to the runway, the flight instructor told the pilot to reduce engine power to idle so that they would not overshoot the touchdown point again. The pilot complied, and as they descend the pilot continued to increase the airplane’s pitch attitude as if engine power had not been reduced. The flight instructor noted this, directed the pilot to decrease the airplane’s pitch, and then “nudged” the control stick forward to reduce the airplane’s angle of attack. As the flight instructor released his forward pressure on the control stick, the airplane’s pitch again increased along with its descent rate, as the pilot continued to pull back on the control stick. The airplane subsequently touched down “hard” on the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. The operator reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation, nor did the pilot or flight instructor report any. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N871LA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N871LA), registered now, S/N 40.NC107, built 2020 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DIAMOND AIRCRAFT IND INC DA 40 NG - Registry model: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40 NG](https://openairdocs.org/model/diamond-aircraft-ind-da-40-ng) (registry code 2990014) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Austro E4-A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/austro-e4-a) (registry code 06402, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 40.NC107 - Year built: 2020 - Airframe hours: 1715 - Engines: Austro E4-A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Take Flight Aviation - Registered owner: Santihoy II LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 21, 2022 - Departed: MGJ, Montegomery, NY - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 20N, Kingston-Ulster, runway 33, 3,100 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Data recorder, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 38; injuries: none; flight instructor, private, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 20, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 640 total, 416 in this make and model, 560 as pilot in command, 113 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 19, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 300.5 total, 8 in this make and model, 117.8 as pilot in command, 4.9 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,900 ft overcast - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: POU, 22 nm away - METAR: KPOU 062153Z 02010KT 10SM OVC039 04/M01 A3010 RMK AO2 SLP190 T00441011 ## 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 20230206003519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230206003519A), Feb 6, 2023: Diamond Aircraft Ind Inc DA 40 NG, Kingston, NY, Substantial damage. Aircraft approached runway 33 for short field landing. Short final the aircraft lost lift and decended abruptly to runway where it impacted. Aircraft… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 15, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106837. 7.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 6.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15385910&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB-6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 168 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15385655&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Robert%20Brown%20Incident%20Report%20Monday%20Feb%205,%202023_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight instructor's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 188 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15385123&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Ryan%20Voight%20Incident%20Report%20Monday%20Feb%205,%202023_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 991 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15385777&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20Template-Redact-Rel.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.