# NTSB WPR23LA133: Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40, N326AF, Winnemucca, NV, March 17, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: March 17, 2023, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Winnemucca, NV
- Coordinates: 40.896611, -117.80588 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8966&lon=-117.8059&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 106917
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA133
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106917/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106917
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA133

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control, and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action.

## 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)
- [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2990002), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=2990002), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/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: 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)

## Analysis

The flight instructor reported that, during an instructional flight with the student pilot at the flight controls, just prior to touchdown, the airplane started drifting left of center. The instructor told his student to go around, but the airplane had already reached the edge of the runway. When the instructor took control, the airplane had already exited the runway and came to rest on the adjacent dirt terrain, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N326AF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N326AF), registered now, S/N 40.986 (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: 40.986
- Airframe hours: 9250
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-M1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: K2 Aviation LLC
- Registered owner: K2 Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2023, 50 hours before
- Departed: KOLM, Olympia, WA
- Destination: KWMC, Winnemucca, NV
- Airport: WMC, Winnemucca Municipal Airport, runway 14, 7,000 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 115 total, 24 in this make and model, 26 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours
- Flight instructor; age 23; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 30, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 325 total, 4 in this make and model, 267 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observed at: KWMC
- METAR: METAR KWMC 172256Z AUTO 04007KT 10SM CLR 12/M07 A3013

## 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 20230317022339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230317022339A), Mar 17, 2023: Diamond Aircraft Ind Inc DA 40, Winnemucca, NV, Substantial damage. Student PIC lost control of aircraft due to light turbulence during landing aircraft drifted off the runway and landed in the weeds next to the runway.

## Other investigations on N326AF (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 CEN11IA114](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11IA114), Dec 8, 2010: Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40 (N326AF), Colorado Springs, CO, incident, minor damage. Probable cause: Fatigue failure of the nose wheel fork, which resulted in separation of the nose wheel.

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 10, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106917. 5.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15785295&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20Form%20Matt%20Knierim%20Version.%20edit_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (2) (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15834029&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20es%20student%20signed_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15785694&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N326AF%20Accident%20Photograph-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.

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