GAA19CA409

NTSB accident investigation · Diamond DA 40 · Denver, CO · July 13, 2019

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
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.

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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.

Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedAll aircraft: 390 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: heading/courseAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedAll aircraft: 82 casesProbable cause
Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilotAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Wind: crosswindEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operationAll aircraft: 1,008 cases
Object/animal/substance: runway/taxi/approach lightEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operationAll aircraft: 106 cases

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.