# NTSB WPR14CA140: Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40, N4106G, Coolidge, AZ, March 20, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 20, 2014, 16:20 local (23:20 UTC)
- Place: Coolidge, AZ
- Coordinates: 32.933612, -111.424163 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9336&lon=-111.4242&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 18, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 88945
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14CA140
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88945/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88945
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA140

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [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 DA 40, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2990002), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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 DA 40, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2990002), [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.

- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2990002), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2990002), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

During a cross-country flight the pilot decided to divert to the accident airport due to personal needs. The pilot reported flying the normal pattern and making a stabilized approach. Upon touchdown the airplane veered to the left and the pilot corrected with right rudder. The airplane then started to rotate to the right and the left wheel departed the landing gear strut. The local police responded to the accident and spoke with the pilot. Officers examined the skid marks on the runway and made the following observations. The airplane touched down on the center of the runway and the skid marks veered towards the left side of the runway until the left main wheel went into the dirt. The pilot over corrected to the right and as the airplane veered to the right the left main tire broke off of the landing gear. The airplane then began to spin on its belly for another 50-70 feet before coming to rest facing to the southeast. The airplane sustained substantial to the left wing. The pilot reported no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

During a cross-country flight the pilot decided to divert to the accident airport due to personal needs. The pilot reported flying the normal pattern and making a stabilized approach. Upon touchdown the airplane veered to the left and the pilot corrected with right rudder. The airplane then started to rotate to the right and the left wheel departed the landing gear strut. The local police responded to the accident and spoke with the pilot. Officers examined the skid marks on the runway and made the following observations. The airplane touched down on the center of the runway and the skid marks veered towards the left side of the runway until the left main wheel went into the dirt. The pilot over corrected to the right and as the airplane veered to the right the left main tire broke off of the landing gear. The airplane then began to spin on its belly for another 50-70 feet before coming to rest facing to the southeast. The airplane sustained substantial to the left wing. The pilot reported no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4106G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4106G-2022-12-24), registration cancelled 2022-12-24, S/N 40.767, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DIAMOND AIRCRAFT IND INC DA 40
- Registry model: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40](https://openairdocs.org/model/diamond-aircraft-ind-da-40) (registry code 2990002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-M1A+](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-m1a-plus) (registry code 41869, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 40.767
- Year built: 2007
- Airframe hours: 5102
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-MIA+ 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: CAE Oxford Aviation Academy
- Registered owner: Aircraft Guaranty Corp Trustee
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 1, 2014
- Departed: RYN, TUCSON, AZ
- Destination: FFZ, MESA, AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: P08, Coolidge Muni, runway 23, 5,564 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 28, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 148 total, 148 in this make and model, 56 as pilot in command, 110 in the last 90 days, 62 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observed at: KCGZ, 17 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 20140320004019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140320004019A), Mar 20, 2014: Diamond Aircraft Ind Inc DA 40, Coolidge, AZ, Substantial damage. Airman landed on a dry runway with calm winds. After the nose wheel touched down, the aircraft began drifting to the left. He corrected back to the right with…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 4, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88945. 11.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413048&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1 – View of Damage to Left Wing (Photo Courtesy of Coolidge PD) (item 2, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413049&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20Damage%20to%20Left%20Wing%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Coolidge%20PD)%0D%0A-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 – Airplane on runway, Left side view (Photo Courtesy of Coolidge PD) (item 3, .PDF, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413050&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20Airplane%20on%20runway,%20Left%20side%20view%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Coolidge%20PD)%20%0D%0A-Master.PDF
- Photo 3 – Runway Skid Marks and Abrasions (Photo Courtesy of Coolidge PD) (item 4, .PDF, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413051&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20%E2%80%93%20Runway%20Skid%20Marks%20and%20Abrasions%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Coolidge%20PD)%0D%0A-Master.PDF
- Coolidge Police Department Report (item 5, .PDF, 317 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413052&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Coolidge%20Police%20Department%20Report-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.

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