# NTSB NYC99LA176: Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 20-A1, N404EC, Sanford, ME, July 15, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 15, 1999, 10:45 local (14:45 UTC) - Place: Sanford, ME - Location: 43.3938° N, 70.7080° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at SANFORD SEACOAST RGNL (SFM), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3938&lon=-70.7080&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 3, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46967 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC99LA176 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46967/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA176 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run ## Analysis The student pilot was practicing touch and go landings. On her second or third landing, she applied power, and the airplane veered to the left. She applied right rudder, but the airplane continued to veer left, off the side of the runway, and onto the grass. She then reduced power, but the airplane continued across the grass and came to rest in a ditch. The student pilot had approximately 55 hours of flight experience. ## Factual narrative On July 15, 1999, about 1045 Eastern Daylight Time, a Diamond DA-20-A1 (Katana), N404EC, was substantially damaged during takeoff at Sanford Regional Airport (SFM), Sanford, Maine. The student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that originated from Laurence G. Hanscom Airport, Bedford, Massachusetts. A visual flight rules flight plan had been filed, but not activated, for the supervised solo instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The student pilot stated that she was practicing touch and go landings to Runway 32 at SFM. On her second or third landing, she applied power, and the airplane veered to the left. She applied right rudder, but the airplane continued to veer left, off the side of the runway, and onto the grass. She then reduced power, but the airplane continued across the grass, and came to rest in a ditch. The student pilot's flight instructor stated that he endorsed her logbook for a long cross country flight. At the time of the accident, she was on the last leg of the flight. He further stated that the student pilot had 55 hours of flight experience. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the student pilot report any. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N404EC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N404EC-2010-07-16), registration cancelled 2010-07-16, S/N 10322, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 20-A1 - Registry model: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-A1](https://openairdocs.org/model/diamond-aircraft-ind-da20-a1) (registry code 2990000) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 10-322 - Airframe hours: 675 - Engines: Rotax 912F3 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: East Coast Aero Club - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 21, 1999, 46 hours before - Departed: BED, BEDFORD, MA - Destination: SFM - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: SFM, Sanford Regional Airport, runway 32, 4,999 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 58 total, 49 in this make and model, 10 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KSF ## 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 19990715046089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990715046089A), Jul 15, 1999: Diamon DA20A1, Sanford, ME, No damage. (-23) A diamond aircraft industries, DA20-A1 (katana), N404EC, piloted by student pilot lauren k. graham, certificate #BB007817, lost direction control during… 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.