# NTSB WPR23LA324: Diamond DA20, N989PA, Fairfield, UT, August 23, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 23, 2023, 07:05 local (13:05 UTC) - Place: Fairfield, UT - Coordinates: 40.114046, -112.06212 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1140&lon=-112.0621&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - 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: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 192945 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA324 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192945/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192945 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA324 ## Probable cause The flight pilots improper fuel management, which resulted a total loss of engine power, and impact with terrain during an off-airport landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s failure to follow the airplane checklist. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=2990001), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that while conducting a simulated engine failure, the student terminated the maneuver, with the fuel mixture leaned, by advancing the throttle. The engine did not respond with full power, and the flight instructor then “advanced” the mixture. The engine subsequently lost total power. The flight instructor attempted but could not restart the engine. The flight instructor then selected an off-airport landing site, and during the landing roll, the airplane impacted a dirt “berm” which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. Postaccident examination of the airplane by the flight instructor revealed the mixture was not in the full rich position and the fuel pump switch was not in the on position, which was contrary to the checklist for engine failure after takeoff procedures. According to the owner, who conducted a postaccident engine test run, the engine exhibited no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N989PA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N989PA), registered now, S/N C0189, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DIAMOND DA20 - Registry model: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-C1](https://openairdocs.org/model/diamond-aircraft-ind-da20-c1) (registry code 2990001) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-240 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-240-series) (registry code 17063, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: C0189 - Year built: 2002 - Airframe hours: 9948.5 - Engines: Continental IO-240-B3B 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 18, 2023 - Departed: SPK, Spanish Fork, UT - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 44; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 22, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,347 total, 279 in this make and model, 1,306 as pilot in command, 61 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 34; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 44 total, 44 in this make and model, 17 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: KPVU, 19 nm away - METAR: KPVU 231456Z 10SM FEW100 20/14 A3023 RMK AO2 SLP190 T02000144 52006 ## 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 20230823012929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230823012929A), Aug 23, 2023: Diamond Aircraft Ind Inc DA20-C1, Cedar Valley, UT, Substantial damage. The flight was operated as a part 91 training flight in order to prepare the student pilot for the private pilot asel practical exam. During preflight, the… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 11, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192945. 6.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16101387&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=AAA%20NTSB%20Form%206120_1%20Signed1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 563 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16091977&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos%20for%20WPR23LA324-Rel.pdf - DA20-C1 fight manual excerpts (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 112 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16102016&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Excerpts%20from%20DA-20-C1%20Flight%20Manual-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation-owner (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17296861&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC_David%20Griffith-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.