# NTSB WPR21LA042: Diamond DA40, N4117H, Mesa, AZ, November 9, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 9, 2020, 07:24 local (14:24 UTC) - Place: Mesa, AZ - Coordinates: 33.460841, -111.72832 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4608&lon=-111.7283&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-to runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured; on the ground: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 102257 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA042 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102257/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102257 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA042 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance with a vehicle while taxiing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2990002), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: ground vehicle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md?model=2990002), [All aircraft, 132 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-to runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2990002), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that while taxiing to the runup area he stopped when he noticed a construction vehicle was in close proximity to the taxiway. After he assessed the situation and felt that he had enough room to taxi around the vehicle on the left, he continued to taxi. However, while maneuvering around the vehicle he misjudged the clearance, and the right wing was substantially damaged when it collided with the vehicle. The student reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4117H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4117H), registered now, S/N 40.938, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Diamond DA40 (F) - 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: 40.938 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 13612 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-M1A+ 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: CAE Phoenix - Aviation Academy - Registered owner: Cae Oxford Aviation Academy Phoenix Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, November 4, 2020, 5.3 hours before - Departed: FFZ, Mesa, AZ - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: FFZ, Falcon Field - Equipment: Data recorder, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 27; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 32 total, 32 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: FFZ, 1 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 20201109015299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201109015299A), Nov 9, 2020: Diamond Aircraft Ind Inc DA 40, Mesa, AZ, Substantial damage. On 11/09/2020 at 07:20 am aircraft N4117H was taxiing toward the "higley ramp" at Falcon field AZ. When the right hand wing came in contact with the cage of a… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 30, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102257. 4.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11636947&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20accident%20report%20form_redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo of damage to leading edge of right wing (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 646 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12416264&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20of%20damage%20to%20leading%20edge%20of%20right%20wing%20(2)-Rel.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.