Diamond Aircraft Industries DA-20-C-1 near Pueblo, CO — 2008-09-08

Probable cause

The student pilot's inability to maintain aircraft control due to an encounter with wake turbulence from a preceding larger aircraft. Contributing to the accident was the instructor pilot's failure to intervene.

NTSB narrative

According to the flight instructor and student pilot, while maneuvering to land, the accident airplane encountered wake turbulence from a preceding C-130 airplane. The accident airplane then began an uncommanded pitch, roll, and descent that could not be arrested prior to an impact with terrain. A review of radar data revealed that the flight path of the accident airplane was in an area favorable for a wake vortex encounter. No anomalies were reported by the flight instructor and student pilot or noted during the postaccident examination of the airframe and engine.

NTSB coding

• Aircraft wake turb encounter · Approach-VFR pattern final

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