# NTSB LAX07CA213: Diamond DA40-G1000, N747PZ, Strawberry Rese, UT, July 9, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 9, 2007, 09:50 local (15:50 UTC) - Place: Strawberry Rese, UT - Coordinates: 40.11222, -110.970558 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1122&lon=-110.9706&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 30, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 66186 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07CA213 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66186/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA213 ## Probable cause The pilot failed to maintain adequate terrain clearance. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to turn into upsloping terrain at a low altitude. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, climb - terrain condition - blind/box canyon - altitude/clearance - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane impacted rising mountainous terrain while flying in a box canyon. The pilot was flying at 7,500 feet msl in mountainous terrain that varied from 7,000 to 9,000 feet msl. His passenger spotted an elk and he maneuvered the airplane into a slight left turn in an attempt to view the elk. The maneuver put the airplane into the entrance of a draw. Within seconds the draw started to rapidly converge. The pilot applied full power and stared to climb but it was clear that the airplane was not going to clear the terrain. He also determined that a 180-degree turn out of the draw was not possible. He continued to fly the plane straight ahead and bled off as much air speed as possible before colliding with the trees. The airplane impacted the trees, turned 90 degrees, and was captured by the trees in a nose down attitude. The pilot and three passengers were able to egress the airplane with out difficulty. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. ## Factual narrative On July 9, 2007, at 0950 mountain daylight time, a Diamond, DA40, N747PZ, collided with terrain while maneuvering in a box canyon 3.5 miles east of the eastern edge of Strawberry Reservoir, Utah. Diamond Flight Center rented the airplane to the pilot who operated it under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and one passenger sustained minor injuries; the remaining two passengers were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated at Vernal, Utah, around 0900. The pilot stated in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, that they were en route back to Spanish Fork, Utah, at 7,500 feet mean sea level (msl) when his passenger spotted an elk. He made a slight left turn in an attempt to view the elk. The maneuver put the airplane into the entrance of a draw. Within seconds the draw started to rapidly converge. The pilot applied full power and stared to climb but it was clear that the airplane was not going to clear the terrain. He also determined that a 180-degree turn out of the draw was not possible. He continued to fly the plane straight ahead and bled off as much air speed as possible before colliding with the trees. The airplane impacted the trees, turned 90 degrees, and was captured by the trees in a nose down attitude. The pilot and three passengers were able to egress the airplane without difficulty. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. The terrain elevation in the vicinity of the accident site is between 7,000 feet and 9,000 feet msl. An FAA inspector that examined the airplane wreckage reported that the ELT was in the off position and the remote switch in the cockpit was armed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N747PZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N747PZ-2010-04-21), registration cancelled 2010-04-21, S/N 40.424, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Diamond Aircraft DA40-G1000 - Registry model: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40](https://openairdocs.org/model/diamond-aircraft-ind-da-40) (registry code 2990002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 40.424 - Airframe hours: 452 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Diamond Flight Center - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 1, 2007, 86.3 hours before - Departed: KVEL, Vernal, UT - Destination: KU77, Spanish Fork, UT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1; flight hours: 141 total, 16 in this make and model, 49 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F ## 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 20070709011309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070709011309A), Jul 9, 2007: Diamon DA40, Heber City, UT, Substantial damage. (-23) Flying back from vernal with brother and 2 children onboard at 500 feet above mountains when they decided to go up a canyon to see if they could find any… 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.