# NTSB NYC08CA313: Diamond Aircraft Industry DA 20-C1, N644DC, Stevensville, MD, September 11, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 11, 2008, 12:17 local (16:17 UTC) - Place: Stevensville, MD - Coordinates: 38.976387, -76.329719 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9764&lon=-76.3297&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 22, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 68939 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC08CA313 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68939/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08CA313 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot stated that as he was initiating a takeoff on runway 11, he increased engine power and rudder input. During the takeoff roll, the student pilot rotated the airplane about 55 knots, and the nose landing gear lifted off the runway. The right wing then rose up and the airplane yawed to the left. The student pilot tried to correct aileron input; however, he moved the control stick rearward, but not to the side. The airplane continued off the left side of the runway and struck an embankment. During the impact, the airplane sustained damage to the landing gear, right wing, propeller, and fuselage. The reported wind at an airport 12 miles west of the accident site, about the time of the accident, was from 110 degrees at 7 knots. The student pilot reported a total flight experience of 13.5 hours, all of which was in the make and model accident airplane and accumulated during the 30 days preceding the accident. ## Factual narrative The solo student pilot of a Diamond DA 20-C1 stated that he was initiating a takeoff on runway 11, a 2,903-foot-long, 60-foot-wide, asphalt runway. As the student pilot increased engine power, he also increased rudder input. During the takeoff roll, the student pilot rotated the airplane about 55 knots, and the nose landing gear lifted off the runway. The right wind then rose up and the airplane yawed to the left. The student pilot tried to correct aileron input; however, he moved the control stick rearward, but not to the side. The airplane continued off the left side of the runway and struck an embankment. During the impact, the airplane sustained damage to the landing gear, right wing, propeller, and fuselage. The reported wind at an airport 12 miles west of the accident site, about the time of the accident, was from 110 degrees at 7 knots. The student pilot reported a total flight experience of 13.5 hours; all of which was in the make and model accident airplane and accumulated during the 30 days preceding the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N644DC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N644DC-2014-09-10), registration cancelled 2014-09-10, S/N C0144, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Diamond Aircraft Industry Inc DA 20-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 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-240-series) (registry code 17063, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: C0144 - Airframe hours: 1592 - Engines: Continental Motors IO-240 SER 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Chesapeake Proflight - Registered owner: Alejandra Aircraft Holdings Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 16, 2008, 39 hours before - Departed: W29, Stevensville, MD - Destination: W29, Stevensville, MD - Airport: W29, Bay Bridge Airport, runway 11, 2,903 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 22; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 13 total, 13 in this make and model, 13 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.34 inHg - Observed at: ANP, 12 nm away 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.