# NTSB GAA15CA072: Diamond Aircraft Ind DA40, N840AB, Fuquay-Varina, NC, March 20, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 20, 2015, 19:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Fuquay-Varina, NC
- Coordinates: 35.540554, -78.747497 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5406&lon=-78.7475&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 8, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 91176
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA072
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91176/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91176
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA072

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway overrun.

## 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, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2990002), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: surface speed/braking](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md?model=2990002), [All aircraft, 238 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2990002), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2990002), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during the landing roll on a grass airstrip, he did not get the airplane stopped before running off the end of the runway. He said the airplane exited the runway at a slow speed and rolled into a ditch. The right main landing gear bent rearward structurally damaging a fuselage bulkhead. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during the landing roll on a grass airstrip, he did not get the airplane stopped before running off the end of the runway. He said the airplane exited the runway at a slow speed and rolled into a ditch. The right main landing gear bent rearward structurally damaging a fuselage bulkhead. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N840AB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N840AB), registered now, S/N 40.478, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DIAMOND AIRCRAFT IND INC DA40
- Registry model: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40](https://openairdocs.org/model/diamond-aircraft-ind-da-40) (registry code 2990002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 40.478
- Year built: 2005
- Airframe hours: 1696
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-M1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Dillon's Aviation
- Registered owner: Diamond Group Holdings
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 11, 2014
- Departed: TTA, SANFORD, NC
- Destination: 78NC, Fuquay-Varina, NC
- Airport: 78NC, Fuquay/Angier Field, runway 14, 2,780 × 90 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 28, 2014; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 390.3 total, 172.5 in this make and model, 46.5 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: KHRJ, 10 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 20150320008369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150320008369A), Mar 20, 2015: Diamond Aircraft Ind Inc DA 40, Angier, NC, Substantial damage. Night landing touched down approximately 2100 ft down 2780 ft runway. Runway grass, freshly mowed and heavy dew (wet) [slippery] brakes were ineffective in…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 30, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91176. 3.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428719&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1(Owner-Operator) (item 2, .PDF, 126 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428720&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1(Owner-Operator)-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 – Right Hand Main Gear Leg (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 471 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428721&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Right%20Hand%20Main%20Gear%20Leg%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)%0D%0A%09-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.

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