# NTSB GAA15CA272: Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 20 C1, N635DC, Sanford, NC, September 19, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 19, 2015, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Sanford, NC - Coordinates: 35.577499, -79.105552 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5775&lon=-79.1056&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 5, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 92040 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA272 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92040/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92040 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA272 ## Probable cause The student pilots failure to maintain a climb after takeoff, which resulted in an impact 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 · Student/instructed 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: yaw control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 149 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 124 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: 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) - [Takeoff: 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 during a solo soft field takeoff the tail of the airplane impacted the ground. He lowered the nose, and as the airspeed increased initiated rotation After liftoff, the airplane drifted to the left of the runway, descended, and impacted the bottom of a ditch. The airplane came to a stop in a ramp parking area. The student pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. ## Factual narrative The student pilot reported that during a solo soft field takeoff the tail of the airplane impacted the ground. He lowered the nose, and as the airspeed increased initiated rotation After liftoff, the airplane drifted to the left of the runway, descended, and impacted the bottom of a ditch. The airplane came to a stop in a ramp parking area. The student pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N635DC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N635DC-2018-05-31), registration cancelled 2018-05-31, S/N C0135, built 2001 (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 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-240-series) (registry code 17063, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: C0135 - Year built: 2001 - Airframe hours: 3181.7 - Engines: Continental IO-240-B 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Dillions Aviation - Registered owner: Poole Timothy F Jr/ Poole Karen A. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, May 28, 2015 - Departed: TTA, Sanford, NC - Destination: TTA, Sanford, NC - Airport: TTA, Raleigh Exec Jetport At Sanfor, runway 03, 6,500 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 41; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 33 total, 25 in this make and model, 8 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: KTTA ## 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 20150919018849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150919018849A), Sep 19, 2015: Diamond Aircraft Ind Inc DA20-C1, Sandford, NC, Substantial damage. On 9/19/2015,aircraft N635DC was being operated by pilot [privacy data omitted] , who was practicing soft field landings., and soft field take offs. On the 7th… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 27, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92040. 2.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40433172&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 2, .PDF, 3 photos, 342 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40433173&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-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.