# NTSB WPR09CA322: Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 20-C1, N765DC, Spanish Fork, UT, July 1, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 1, 2009, 12:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Spanish Fork, UT - Coordinates: 40.141387, -111.661109 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1414&lon=-111.6611&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 10, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Adminsitration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74171 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA322 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74171/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74171 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA322 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s improper landing flare. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · 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-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: 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 student pilot reported that his final approach to the runway was high and that he "slipped" the airplane to lose altitude. As the airplane crossed over the runway, he pitched the airplane forward to prepare for landing. The student pilot stated that he "felt the [air]plane losing forward momentum and added throttle to compensate." The airplane landed hard, bounced back into the air, and began to drift to the left. As the student pilot attempted to abort the landing by applying full throttle and reducing flaps, the airplane landed hard and exited the runway to the left. Subsequently, the airplane impacted a ditch, which resulted in structural damage to the rudder, left aileron, fuselage, and engine firewall. The student pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the engine or airframe prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative The student pilot reported that while on final approach to the runway, he was high and slipped the airplane to lose altitude. As the airplane crossed over the runway, he pitched the airplane forward to prepare for landing. The student pilot stated that he "felt the [air]plane losing forward momentum and added throttle to compensate." The airplane landed hard, bounced back into the air, and began to drift to the left. As the student pilot attempted to abort the landing by applying full throttle and reducing flaps, the airplane landed hard and exited the runway to the left. Subsequently, the airplane impacted a ditch, which resulted in structural damage to the rudder, left aileron, fuselage, and engine firewall. The student pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the engine or airframe prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N765DC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N765DC), registered now, S/N C0165 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DIAMOND AIRCRAFT IND 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: C0165 - Airframe hours: 2660 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-240 SER 128 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Airgyro Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Airgyro Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 13, 2009, 95 hours before - Departed: U77, Spanish Fork, UT - Destination: U77, Spanish Fork, UT - Airport: U77, Spanish Fork-Springville, runway 30, 5,700 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 35; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 29 total, 16 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: PVU, 5 nm away ## 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 20090701009579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090701009579A), Jul 1, 2009: Diamon DA20C1, Spanish Fork, UT, Substantial damage. (-23) On July 1, 2009 at approximately 1300 local time, N765DC, piloted by student pilot heath buczek, was involved in an accident while performing a touch and… ## Other investigations on N765DC (1) 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. - [NTSB SEA08LA090](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08LA090), Mar 9, 2008: Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 20-C1 (N765DC), Spanish Fork, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The fatigue failure of the nose wheel fork assembly attachment stud/bolt during takeoff initial climb, and the collapse of the nose gear during landing. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 9, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74171. 668 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 668 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315708&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.