Pilot Debrief

DIAMOND AIRCRAFT IND INC DA-40 near Arcata, CA — 2009-03-02

Final reportWPR09FA146
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Date
2009-03-02
Location
Arcata, CA, USA
Airport
KACV
Aircraft
DIAMOND AIRCRAFT IND INC DA-40
Registration
N521DS
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
2
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain proper altitude and glidepath while executing a night instrument approach. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's fatigue.

Contributing factors

Contributing to the accident was the pilot's fatigue.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was executing an over-water instrument approach to Runway 14 on a dark night in an area of moderate to heavy precipitation and light to moderate turbulence. Based upon the airplane's descent profile, recorded radar data, local ocean currents, and the ultimate distribution of debris along the beach, the airplane impacted the ocean's surface about one-half mile offshore and about seven statute miles northwest of the Arcata Airport. In the forty-two hours immediately preceding the accident, the pilot had flown about twenty hours and forty-five minutes, and had crossed four time zones. There was no record of the pilot acquiring a weather briefing relating to his destination on the day of the accident.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Controlled flight into terrain
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have opted for an alternate airport due to worsening weather conditions.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents10

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