Summary
On June 16, 2018, a Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA 20 (N992CT) was involved in an incident near Spanish Fork, UT. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot receiving instruction’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction reported that, the pilot performed a soft field takeoff and once in ground effect, he reduced back pressure and the instructor heard the stall warning horn and observed a low airspeed. The instructor told the pilot to reduce the pitch, the pilot lowered the nose a little, but the airplane continued to climb. The instructor told the pilot to reduce pitch again, but the pilot reported he was concerned about a possible propeller strike. The flight instructor took the flight controls, but the airplane had turned to the right and he experienced a "loss of control".
This incident is documented in NTSB report GAA18CA358. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N992CT.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot receiving instruction’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction reported that, the pilot performed a soft field takeoff and once in ground effect, he reduced back pressure and the instructor heard the stall warning horn and observed a low airspeed. The instructor told the pilot to reduce the pitch, the pilot lowered the nose a little, but the airplane continued to climb. The instructor told the pilot to reduce pitch again, but the pilot reported he was concerned about a possible propeller strike. The flight instructor took the flight controls, but the airplane had turned to the right and he experienced a "loss of control". The airplane landed off the right side of the runway, the instructor reduced power, the left main landing gear separated, and the airplane came to rest.
The instructor and student reported that the airplane had aerodynamically stalled.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage.
The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction both reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA18CA358