Pilot Debrief

DIAMOND AIRCRAFT IND INC DA 40 NG near Darlington, IN — 2021-06-06

Final reportCEN21FA252
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Date
2021-06-06
Location
Darlington, IN, USA
Aircraft
DIAMOND AIRCRAFT IND INC DA 40 NG
Registration
N853L
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
2
Phase of flight
Maneuvering

Probable cause

A loss of control while practicing an aerodynamic stall, which resulted in a spin and impact with terrain.

NTSB narrative

The flight instructor and student pilot were conducting a training flight. automatic dependent surveillance – broadcast (ADS-B) and onboard data revealed heading, engine power, and altitude changes consistent with maneuvering. Just before the accident, the airplane entered a power-off stall from an altitude of about 4,000 ft mean sea level (msl). The right wing dropped, the pitch attitude decreased, and the airplane entered a descent consistent with a spin. Ground scars and the orientation of the wreckage were consistent with an impact with terrain in a slight right-wing-low, nose-down attitude. The wreckage was highly fragmented with scattered debris that extended for about 75 yards. There were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. Review of engine data indicated nominal engine performance before the accident. The airplane was not approved for spin maneuvers; however, the airplane’s flight manual provided a recovery procedure in the event of an unintentional spin. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with an inadvertent spin and loss of control while practicing an aerodynamic stall. Because the airplane was not approved for intentional spins, it is unlikely that the flight instructor had ever experienced a spin in the accident airplane make/model and was therefore likely unfamiliar with its spin and recovery characteristics.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have avoided the spin by not reducing engine power during maneuvering.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Video
  • Photos
  • 14 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents14

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