# NTSB WPR25LA278: Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40, N8VT, Rocky Ridge, UT, September 12, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 11, 2025, 21:30 local (Sep 12, 2025, 03:30 UTC) - Place: Rocky Ridge, UT - Coordinates: 39.91742, -111.8607 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9174&lon=-111.8607&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 3 minor - Status: Completed, report November 20, 2025 - 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): 201012 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA278 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201012/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201012 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA278 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s inadequate supervision and delayed remedial action during an unusual attitude recovery, which resulted in a descent into terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=2990002), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot; 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) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check 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) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check 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) - [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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=2990002), [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2990002), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2990002), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 40, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2990002), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor and student pilot were conducting a night visual flight rules training flight, which included a recovery from an unusual attitude. During the recovery maneuver, the student pilot became concerned about the airplane’s proximity to mountainous terrain. The flight instructor and student pilot then both focused their attention on the multi-function display (MFD) to confirm their position. While both pilots were observing the MFD the airplane entered a decent, which the instructor and student pilot both failed to notice until the terrain was illuminated by the landing light. The flight instructor then took control of the airplane; however, the airplane contacted the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing and separation of the empennage. The flight instructor reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8VT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8VT), registered now, S/N 40.480, built 2005 (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 I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 40.480 - Year built: 2005 - Airframe hours: 1195.8 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-M1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Aleph Leasing LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 31, 2025 - Departed: SPK, Spanish Fork, UT - Destination: U14, Nephi, UT - Equipment: Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 28; injuries: minor; flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 27, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,516 total, 86 in this make and model, 1,367 as pilot in command, 163 in the last 90 days, 51 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 44; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 25 total, 25 in this make and model, 0 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 231° at 7 knots - Visibility: 11.5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: PVU, 19 nm away - METAR: KPVU 120256Z 10004KT 4SM HZ 21/08 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP103 T02060083 53008 ## 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 20250911018379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250911018379A), Sep 11, 2025: Diamond Aircraft Ind Inc DA 40, Rocky Ridge, UT, Substantial damage. The instructional flight with flight instructor, student pilot and passenger began with ground instruction and then departed west desert airport at… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 20, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201012. 2.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19327212&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR25LA278%206120.1%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19327878&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR25LA278%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20Pilot%20Instructor%20Sep%2017%2025-Rel.pdf_Redacted.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 358 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19316099&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photographs-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.