- Date
- January 27, 2015, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place
- La Verne, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N805ERDiamond Aircraft Ind DA 40
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 21, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20150127002299A
- Case key
- 90661
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The student pilot's loss of directional control during takeoff from a runway, which resulted in a collision with a sign.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The student pilot reported that the purpose of the solo flight was for him to practice soft-field takeoffs from a hard surface runway. During the takeoff roll, the airplane encountered a sudden gust of wind and the student pilot was unable to maintain directional control. The airplane veered to the left of the runway centerline and continued off the surface, colliding with several signs before coming to rest in a grassy area. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The student pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The student pilot further reported that the accident could have been prevented if he was more vigilant of sudden gusts of wind even in reported calm wind conditions.
Factual narrative
The student pilot reported that the purpose of the solo flight was for him to practice soft-field takeoffs from a hard surface runway. During the takeoff roll, the airplane encountered a sudden gust of wind and the student pilot was unable to maintain directional control. The airplane veered to the left of the runway centerline and continued off the surface, colliding with several signs before coming to rest in a grassy area. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The student pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The student pilot further reported that the accident could have been prevented if he was more vigilant of sudden gusts of wind even in reported calm wind conditions.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N805ER
- Reported as
- Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40 (UNDESIGNAT)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 40.316
- Built
- 2003
- Airframe hours
- 4,495
- Engine
- Lycoming IO360 SER, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Mile High LLC, doing business as So Cal Flying Club
- Registered owner
- Mile High LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 12, 2014
- Departed
- EMT · El Monte, CA
- Destination
- POC · La Verne, CA
- Airport
- POC · Brackett Field, runway 26L, 4,840 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Stall warning system
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 31
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 78 total · 78 in this make and model · 10 as pilot in command · 37 in the last 90 days · 19 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.15 inHg
- Observed at
- KPOC
Docket · 5
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 14, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 939 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.