# NTSB WPR15CA094: Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40, N805ER, La Verne, CA, January 27, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 27, 2015, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: La Verne, CA - Coordinates: 34.055, -117.464996 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0550&lon=-117.4650&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 21, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 90661 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR15CA094 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90661/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90661 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15CA094 ## Probable cause The student pilot's loss of directional control during takeoff from a runway, which resulted in a collision with a sign. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## 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 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: DIAMOND AIRCRAFT IND INC DA 40 (UNDESIGNAT) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 40.316 - Year built: 2003 - Airframe hours: 4495 - Engines: 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. - Student pilot; age 31; injuries: none; 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 ## 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 20150127002299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150127002299A), Jan 27, 2015: Diamond Aircraft Ind Inc DA 40, Pomona, CA, Substantial damage. Student pilot [privacy data omitted] took off from el monte around 1430 PST to brackett field to do some traffic pattern work. Arrived there about 1440 PST,… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 14, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90661. 939 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 776 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425015&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation – Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 71 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425016&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20%E2%80%93%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Aircraft (Photo Courtesy of Airport Operations) (item 3, .PDF, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425108&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Aircraft%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Airport%20Operations)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Leading Edge of Left Wing (Photo Courtesy of Airport Operations) (item 4, .PDF, 26 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425109&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Leading%20Edge%20of%20Left%20Wing%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Airport%20Operations)-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Left Wing (Photo Courtesy of Airport Operations) (item 5, .PDF, 27 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425110&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Left%20Wing%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Airport%20Operations)-Master.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.