# NTSB GAA15CA155: Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 20 C1, N577MA, Salisbury, MD, June 24, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 24, 2015, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Salisbury, MD - Coordinates: 38.340278, -75.509445 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3403&lon=-75.5094&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 8, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 91483 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA155 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91483/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91483 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA155 ## Probable cause The student pilot's loss of directional control during the landing roll, resulting in a runway excursion and collision with terrain. ## 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 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: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2990001), [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 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 student pilot reported that the high-wing airplane in which she had received her initial flight training had been sold, and she had transitioned to the low-wing (accident) airplane. She stated that she acquired 5.9 hours of flight training in the low-wing airplane before she was authorized to solo in that airplane. During the accident landing, she reported that, "My final approach speed was a little higher than recommended and the nose of the plane was pointed slightly left of the centerline upon landing." During the landing roll, the pilot reported that she applied full back pressure and stepped on the brakes hard, but was unable to prevent the runway excursion. After departing the runway to the left, the airplane impacted a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fiberglass fuselage structure. The student pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The student pilot reported that the high-wing airplane in which she had received her initial flight training had been sold, and she had transitioned to the low-wing (accident) airplane. She stated that she acquired 5.9 hours of flight training in the low-wing airplane before she was authorized to solo in that airplane. During the accident landing, she reported that, "My final approach speed was a little higher than recommended and the nose of the plane was pointed slightly left of the centerline upon landing." During the landing roll, the pilot reported that she applied full back pressure and stepped on the brakes hard, but was unable to prevent the runway excursion. After departing the runway to the left, the airplane impacted a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fiberglass fuselage structure. The student pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N577MA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N577MA), registered now, S/N C0277 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DIAMOND AIRCRAFT IND INC DA 20 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-B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-240-b) (registry code 17177, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: C0277 - Year built: 2004 - Airframe hours: 2812 - Engines: Continental TCM IO-240-B 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 20, 2015 - Departed: MTN, BALTIMORE, MD - Destination: SBY, Salisbury, MD - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: SBY, Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico, runway 32, 6,400 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 44.5 total, 22.8 in this make and model, 5.9 in the last 90 days, 5.9 in the last 30 days, 2.9 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 8 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: SBY ## 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 20150624009709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150624009709A), Jun 24, 2015: Diamond Aircraft Ind Inc DA20-C1, Salisbury, MD, Substantial damage. Student pilot was on second solo flight, landed at sby and lost control on roll out. The aircraft ran off the runway hitting a ditch. The aircraft sustained… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 29, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91483. 3.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432230&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 848 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432231&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.