# NTSB ERA23LA294: Diamond DA50, Wagener, SC, June 13, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 13, 2023, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Wagener, SC · Owner's private airstrip, off end of turf runway
- Coordinates: 33.5976, -81.50911 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5976&lon=-81.5091&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 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): 192606
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA294
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192606/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192606
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA294

## Probable cause

The pilot’s decision to take off from a short, grass runway in gusting wind conditions, resulting in a rejected takeoff and runway excursion.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: surface speed/braking](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 238 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was taking off to the east from his personal, grass airstrip, which was 2,400 ft-long and 75 ft-wide. Surface wind at a nearby airport was from 120° at 8 knots with gusts to 12 knots. Just before rotation on the takeoff roll, he felt a large wind gust and decided to abort the takeoff. He was unable to stop the airplane in the remaining runway, it collided with a fence, the landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest upright. The airplane’s wings and fuselage were substantially damaged during the accident. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: OE-DSD (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: DIAMOND DA50 (C)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 50.C.A.A.017
- Year built: 2022
- Airframe hours: 173
- Engines: Continental CD300 300 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Dantata Holdings Ltd
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 5, 2023, 40 hours before
- Airport: N/A, SD Farms, runway 9, 2,400 × 75 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 10, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 4,000 total, 140 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 8 knots, gusting 12
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken
- Observed at: KAIK, 9 nm away

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 31, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192606. 6.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 4.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15912477&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot submission with photos (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15912497&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2%20Pilot%20Submission%20with%20Photos_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- NTSB memorandum for record - correspondence with pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15912389&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=3%20NTSB%20MOR%20Correspondence%20with%20Pilot-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.

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