Pilot Debrief

DIAMOND DA20 near St. Croix — 2016-08-07

Final reportERA16LA282
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Date
2016-08-07
Location
St. Croix, USA
Airport
STX
Aircraft
DIAMOND DA20
Registration
N828BB
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The flight instructor's improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a loss of airplane control. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the student pilot.

NTSB narrative

The student pilot was performing an approach and landing under the supervision of the flight instructor. The flight instructor reported that the student completed a "normal" traffic pattern but that the airplane bounced on landing and that he immediately took control of the airplane. The flight instructor initiated a go-around and established a climb; however, the engine lost power, and the airplane descended into terrain. An air traffic controller who witnessed the accident said that, just before touchdown, the airplane banked left, and the left wing appeared to hit the ground. He added that the airplane then bounced four to five times before it banked "hard" left and departed the runway. The airplane then impacted trees about 1,700 ft past the departure end, and 400 ft left of, the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane and the engine revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation, and cut tree branches located at the accident site indicated that the engine was producing power at the time of impact.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Initiating a go-around after the bounced landing could have prevented the accident.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 8 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents8

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