- Date
- July 13, 2019, 14:50 local (20:50 UTC)
- Place
- Denver, CO
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N388JPDiamond DA 40
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 2, 2019
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20190713016559A
- Case key
- 99839
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot receiving instruction's failure to maintain the runway heading and bank control during landing in crosswind conditions, which resulted in a go-around and subsequent collision with a runway light.
Findings · 5
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot receiving instruction reported that, during landing in windy conditions, the airplane drifted left of the runway centerline. He added that he applied right rudder and aileron to correct, but when he realized the airplane "was going to drift to left of [the] runway," he initiated a go-around. The flight instructor reported that the airplane subsequently touched down "momentarily" and that he heard a "thump." The pilot then added power and made "several corrections" to maintain the runway heading and then established a climb. The instructor reported to the tower controller that the airplane may have struck a runway edge light. The pilot landed the airplane and taxied to the ramp without further incident. During postaccident examination, white paint transfer marks were observed on the runway leading to a runway light. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both the left and right ailerons. The pilot added that airport personnel informed him that a runway light was damaged and would require replacement. The chief pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The flight instructor reported that the wind was from 350° at 12 knots, gusting to 19 knots. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about 3 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 340° at 13 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 30.
Factual narrative
The pilot receiving instruction reported that, during landing in windy conditions, the airplane drifted to the left of the runway centerline. He applied right rudder and aileron to correct, but when "it became apparent the aircraft was going to drift to [the] left of runway", he initiated a go around. The flight instructor reported that the airplane had touched down momentarily and that he heard a "thump." The pilot then added power and made "several corrections" to maintain runway heading and established a climb. The instructor reported to the tower controller that the airplane may have struck a runway edge light. The pilot landed the airplane and taxied to the ramp without further incident. A postaccident examination found white paint transfer marks on the runway leading to a runway light and that the airplane sustained substantial damage to both the left and right ailerons. The pilot added that airport personnel informed him that a runway light was damaged and would require replacement. The chief pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The flight instructor reported that the wind was from 350° at 12 knots, gusting to 19 knots. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about 3 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 340° at 13 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 30.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N388JP
- Reported as
- Diamond DA 40 (Undesignat)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 40.388
- Built
- 2004
- Airframe hours
- 1,362
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-M1A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Western Air Flight Academy
- Registered owner
- Sml Aviation Llc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · May 10, 2019
- Departed
- LMO · Longmont, CO
- Destination
- BJC · Denver, CO
- Airport
- BJC · Rocky Mountain Metropolitan, runway 30L, 7,002 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 61
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 13, 2019
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 137 total · 7 in this make and model · 53 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 71
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 28, 2019
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 23,885 total · 54.2 in this make and model · 16,137 as pilot in command · 55 in the last 90 days · 9.1 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 340° at 13 knots
- Visibility
- 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 22,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Observed at
- KBJC
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 9, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 257 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.