# NTSB WPR24LA116: Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40 NG, N755LA, Coolidge, AZ, March 21, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 21, 2024, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Coolidge, AZ · P08 Airport - Coordinates: 32.937461, -111.4258 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9375&lon=-111.4258&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - 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): 193975 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA116 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193975/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193975 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA116 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing in gusty wind conditions. Contributing, was the failure of the flight instructor to intervene in a timely manner. ## 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 · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40 NG, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2990014), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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 NG, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2990014), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40 NG, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2990014), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40 NG, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2990014), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40 NG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2990014), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40 NG, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2990014), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40 NG, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2990014), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40 NG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=2990014), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that the student pilot initially flared high for the landing and was instructed to lower the nose and add power to correct for the slow airspeed. The student pilot corrected to a normal landing attitude when a wind gust caused the airplane to drift to the left of centerline. Subsequently, the airplane began to sink towards the runway with the right wing down, which struck the runway. The airplane then bounced, and the instructor took control of the airplane and was able to safely recover and land the airplane. Post flight examination of the airplane revealed that the right aileron sustained substantial damage. Both pilots stated that there were no preaccident failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N755LA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N755LA), registered now, S/N 40.NC220, built 2023 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DIAMOND AIRCRAFT IND INC DA 40 NG - Registry model: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40 NG](https://openairdocs.org/model/diamond-aircraft-ind-da-40-ng) (registry code 2990014) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Austro E4-A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/austro-e4-a) (registry code 06402, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 40.NC220 - Year built: 2023 - Airframe hours: 97.7 - Engines: Austro Engine AE E4-A 168 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jetnexa Four LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 20, 2024 - Departed: IWA, Mesa, AZ - Airport: P08, Coolidge Municipal Airport, runway 05, 5,564 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 13 total, 12 in this make and model - Flight instructor; age 48; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 17, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 11,230 total, 120 in this make and model, 10,780 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KCGZ, 17 nm away - METAR: KCGZ 211656Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 19/04 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP184 T01890044 PNO $ ## 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 20240321003029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240321003029A), Mar 21, 2024: Diamond Aircraft Ind Inc DA 40 NG, Coolidge, AZ, Substantial damage. Normal traffic pattern operations were used for runway 5. The base to final turn was stable, airspeed normal approach speed of 75 knots. Flaps selected to… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 31, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193975. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16992171&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20Final_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photographs (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 252 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16992661&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR24LA116%20Accident%20Photos-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.