# NTSB SEA07CA184: Diamond Aircraft Industries DA20-C1, N363M, La Pine, OR, June 25, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 25, 2007, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: La Pine, OR - Coordinates: 43.674167, -121.513053 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6742&lon=-121.5131&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 31, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Portland Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 66062 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07CA184 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66062/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07CA184 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing site for a precautionary landing. Contributing factors were the pilot's failure to refuel the airplane, the low fuel level, and trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - fluid,fuel - low level (contributing factor) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that he departed on a cross-country, solo, instructional flight. The pilot made touch and go landings at two different airports and then began his return to the departure airport. At the beginning of the return leg, the pilot checked his fuel gauges and noted that he believed he "would make it back [to the departure airport] with at least a quarter tank remaining." En route, the pilot checked his fuel gauges again, noted that they were indicating lower than he expected, and decided to divert to a closer airport. Approximately 25 miles from that airport, the pilot became convinced that he did not have enough fuel to reach the airfield. The pilot decided to make a precautionary landing before he ran out of fuel. The pilot selected a paved road with trees lining both sides as a landing site, and flew the airplane in a "descending right circle" to observe the area. The airplane touched down on the center of the road, but there was not enough lateral clearance, resulting in the left wing impacting trees that lined the south side of the road. The aircraft veered to the left, the nose gear collapsed, and the aircraft skidded to a stop on the road. ## Factual narrative The student pilot reported that he departed on a cross-country, solo, instructional flight. The pilot made touch and go landings at two different airports and then began his return to the departure airport. At the beginning of the return leg, the pilot checked his fuel gauges and noted that he believed he "would make it back [to the departure airport] with at least a quarter tank remaining." En route, the pilot checked his fuel gauges again, noted that they were indicating lower than he expected, and decided to divert to a closer airport. Approximately 25 miles from that airport, the pilot became convinced that he did not have enough fuel to reach the airfield. The pilot decided to make a precautionary landing before he ran out of fuel. The pilot selected a paved road with trees lining both sides as a landing site, and flew the airplane in a "descending right circle" to observe the area. The airplane touched down on the center of the road, but there was not enough lateral clearance, resulting in the left wing impacting trees that lined the south side of the road. The aircraft veered to the left, the nose gear collapsed, and the aircraft skidded to a stop on the road. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N363M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N363M-2011-05-09), registration cancelled 2011-05-09, S/N C0328, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Diamond Aircraft Industries 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 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-240-series) (registry code 17063, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: C0328 - Engines: Continental IO-240 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Professional Air - Registered owner: Brandon Wilcox - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: KBDN, BEND, OR - Destination: KBDN, BEND, OR - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 59 total, 55 in this make and model, 11 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °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 20070625014179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070625014179A), Jun 25, 2007: Diamon DA20C1, La Pine, OR, Destroyed. (-23) The student pilot of a non-certified part 61 flight school, checked fuel on preflight and the tanks were full. He left just past 0800 and flew southerly… 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.