# NTSB GAA19CA527: Diamond DA20, N98BZ, Convington, TN, August 31, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 31, 2019, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Convington, TN - Coordinates: 35.583332, -89.587219 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5833&lon=-89.5872&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 17, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100202 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA527 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100202/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100202 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA527 ## Probable cause The student pilot's improper pitch attitude during the takeoff climb, and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and ground impact. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [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) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check 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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); 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) - [Landing: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: 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 flight instructor reported that he instructed his student to perform a soft-field takeoff. During the takeoff roll, the instructor had his hands on the flight controls while the student pilot released the yoke back pressure and the airplane began to climb, but the airplane's nose was too high. The flight instructor pushed forward on the control stick to correct the nose high attitude, "and the plane started to pull to the right." The flight instructor does not know whether the stall warning horn sounded, as the airplane flew over the right edge of the runway, but he does recall being on the flight controls when the airplane descended and impacted the grass safety area on the right side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage composite structure. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor reported that he instructed his student to perform a soft-field takeoff. During the takeoff roll, the instructor had his hands on the flight controls while the student pilot released the yoke back pressure and the airplane began to climb, but the airplane's nose was too high. The flight instructor pushed forward on the control stick to correct the nose high attitude, "and the plane started to pull to the right." The flight instructor does not know whether the stall warning horn sounded, as the airplane flew over the right edge of the runway, but he does recall being on the flight controls when the airplane descended and impacted the grass safety area on the right side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage composite structure. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N98BZ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N98BZ), registered now, S/N C0689, built 2016 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Diamond DA20 (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: C0689 - Year built: 2016 - Airframe hours: 760.2 - Engines: Continental IO-240-B 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Cti Aircraft Leasing Llc, doing business as Flight School - Registered owner: Cti Aircraft Leasing Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, August 7, 2019 - Departed: M04, Convington, TN - Destination: NQA, Millington, TN - Airport: M04, Covington Muni, runway 19, 5,004 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 24; injuries: none; flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 24, 2019; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 281 total, 44 in this make and model, 203 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 27; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 38 total, 38 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KM04 ## 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 20190831014719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190831014719A), Aug 31, 2019: Diamond Aircraft Ind Inc DA20-C1, Covington, TN, Substantial damage. 0N 08/31/2019 n 98BZ veered off of the runway while on take off roll on runway 19 at Covington TN M03 airport, and broke landing gear. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 3, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100202. 3.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479574&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 119 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479575&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.