# NTSB ERA24LA247: Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, N208DB, Southampton Township, NJ, June 5, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 5, 2024, 15:40 local (19:40 UTC)
- Place: Southampton Township, NJ
- Coordinates: 39.904424, -74.749138
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9044&lon=-74.7491&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- 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): 194404
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA247
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194404/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194404
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA247

## Probable cause

The flight instructor’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during a low approach and subsequent go-around in turbulent wind conditions.

## 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 · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md)
- [Turbulence: terrain induced turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032010/cases.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032010/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Approach: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot receiving instruction and flight instructor were on an instructional flight. While on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern at a small private airport, the flight instructor reduced the engine power to simulate a loss of engine power. The pilot described that the wind was “howling” and that there were tall trees along the approach path to the runway. The flight instructor offered to demonstrate the simulated approach to landing and go-around. The flight instructor reported that during the approach there was some turbulence, and he was monitoring the airplane’s airspeed closely. After clearing the trees, while about 30 to 50ft above the runway, the airplane’s nose suddenly pitched down and the sink rate increased. He applied full power to go around but could not arrest the descent before drifting to the right of the runway and contacting the ground hard. The nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane’s engine mounts were substantially damaged. Both pilots reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N208DB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N208DB-2026-04-08), registration cancelled 2026-04-08, S/N C0259, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DIAMOND AIRCRAFT IND INC DA20-C1 (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 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-240-series) (registry code 17063, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: C0259
- Year built: 2004
- Airframe hours: 4270.7
- Engines: Continental Aerospace IO-240-B 125 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Freeflight Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 13, 2023, 65.4 hours before
- Departed: N14, Vincentown, NJ
- Airport: JY73, Red Lion, runway 23, 2,880 × 50 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 70; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 28, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 5,805 total, 347 in this make and model, 5,706 as pilot in command, 55.5 in the last 90 days, 26.1 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 61; injuries: none; flight engineer, military, commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 5, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 8,579 total, 3.9 in this make and model, 5,956 as pilot in command, 3.9 in the last 90 days, 3.9 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Turbulence: Light
- Observed at: VAY, 5 nm away
- METAR: KVAY 051954Z AUTO 17008KT 150V210 10SM FEW034 BKN120 27/19 A2982 RMK AO2 SLP098 T02720194 $

## 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 20240605006549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240605006549A), Jun 5, 2024: Diamond Aircraft Ind Inc DA20-C1, Southampton, NJ, Substantial damage. While the cfi/pilot in command was demonstrating a simulated engine failure during a rental checkout to a prospective renter pilot at a private use airport he…

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 30, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194404. 32.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (instructor) (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 11.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17440411&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA247%206120%20McCabe_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (pilot receiving instruction) (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 18.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17440721&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA247%206120%20Amisano_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Interview summary - flight instructor (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17440542&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA247%20Pilot%20Interview-Rel.pdf
- Interview summary - pilot receiving instruction (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 71 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17441071&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA247%20Pilot%20Receiving%20Instruction%20Interview-Rel.pdf
- FAA inspector's statement (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17440610&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20FSDO%20Pilot%20interviews_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 152 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17440115&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA247%20Photo%20Array-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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