# NTSB GAA17CA088: Diamond Aircraft Ind DA-20, N992CT, Payson, UT, December 2, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 2, 2016, 13:07 local (20:07 UTC) - Place: Payson, UT - Coordinates: 40.064445, -111.726669 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0644&lon=-111.7267&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 13, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94461 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA088 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94461/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94461 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA088 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper in-flight fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot reported that, while on a cross-country flight, the weather deteriorated at the destination airport. He decided to complete a touch-and-go landing at an airport along the route and then return to the departure airport. The student pilot further reported that, when he began the flight back to his original point of departure, the airplane had about 3/4 tank of fuel remaining, and a headwind was present. About 10 to 15 nautical miles from the original departure airport, the fuel supply was exhausted, and the student pilot made a forced landing in a field. During the forced landing, the right wing struck a tree and was substantially damaged. The student pilot did not report any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The solo student pilot reported that while on a cross-country flight, the weather deteriorated at the destination airport. He decided to complete a touch-and-go landing at an airport along the route and then return to the departure airport. The student pilot further reported that when he began the flight back to his original point of departure, the airplane had about ¾ tank of fuel remaining and a headwind was present. About 10 to 15 nautical miles from the original departure airport, the fuel supply was exhausted and the student pilot made a forced landing in a field. During the forced landing, the right wing struck a tree and was substantially damaged. The student pilot did not report any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N992CT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N992CT-2021-06-05), registration cancelled 2021-06-05, S/N C0092, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DIAMOND AIRCRAFT IND INC DA-20 (C-1) - Registry model: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1](https://openairdocs.org/model/diamond-aircraft-ind-da20-c1) (registry code 2990001) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: C0092 - Year built: 1999 - Airframe hours: 4720.7 - Engines: Continental IO-240-B 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 24, 2016 - Departed: CDC, CEDAR CITY, UT - Destination: U77, SPANISH FORK, UT - Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Handheld GPS, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 32; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 50 total, 47 in this make and model, 21 as pilot in command, 46 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: KPVU, 20 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 20161202021299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161202021299A), Dec 2, 2016: Diamond Aircraft Ind Inc DA20-C1, Payson, UT, Substantial damage. The student pilot stated, "on December 2, 2016 at approximately 10:00 am I departed the spanish fork airport on a southbound departure for st. george. I… ## Other investigations on N992CT (1) 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. - [NTSB GAA18CA358](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA358), Jun 16, 2018: Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 20 (N992CT), Spanish Fork, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot receiving instruction’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 6, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94461. 446 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 258 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455954&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 188 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40449022&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.