Summary
On September 11, 2008, a Diamond Aircraft Industry INC DA 20-C1 (N644DC) was involved in an incident near Stevensville, MD. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.
The solo student pilot of a Diamond DA 20-C1 stated that he was initiating a takeoff on runway 11, a 2,903-foot-long, 60-foot-wide, asphalt runway. As the student pilot increased engine power, he also increased rudder input. During the takeoff roll, the student pilot rotated the airplane about 55 knots, and the nose landing gear lifted off the runway. The right wind then rose up and the airplane yawed to the left. The student pilot tried to correct aileron input; however, he moved the control stick rearward, but not to the side. The airplane continued off the left side of the runway and struck an embankment. During the impact, the airplane sustained damage to the landing gear, right wing, propeller, and fuselage.
This incident is documented in NTSB report NYC08CA313. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N644DC.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
The solo student pilot of a Diamond DA 20-C1 stated that he was initiating a takeoff on runway 11, a 2,903-foot-long, 60-foot-wide, asphalt runway. As the student pilot increased engine power, he also increased rudder input. During the takeoff roll, the student pilot rotated the airplane about 55 knots, and the nose landing gear lifted off the runway. The right wind then rose up and the airplane yawed to the left. The student pilot tried to correct aileron input; however, he moved the control stick rearward, but not to the side. The airplane continued off the left side of the runway and struck an embankment. During the impact, the airplane sustained damage to the landing gear, right wing, propeller, and fuselage. The reported wind at an airport 12 miles west of the accident site, about the time of the accident, was from 110 degrees at 7 knots. The student pilot reported a total flight experience of 13.5 hours; all of which was in the make and model accident airplane and accumulated during the 30 days preceding the accident.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# NYC08CA313