Diamond KATANA DA 20-A1 N854DF
18 August 1999 · San Carlos, California, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 18 August 1999 at about 21:20 local time, a Diamond KATANA DA 20-A1 registered N854DF was involved in an accident near San Carlos, California, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 21:20
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- San Carlos, California, United States
- Nearest airport
- San Carlos (SQL)
- Coordinates
- 37.4903, -122.2605
- Aircraft
- Diamond KATANA DA 20-A1
- Registration
- N854DF
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX99LA264
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
The release of the aircraft's left canopy latch following takeoff resulting in the subsequent opening of the canopy in flight. The opened canopy resulted in a degradation of aircraft control and the subsequent hard landing.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
On takeoff the pilot reported that the left canopy latch popped open. He verified that the right canopy latch was secure and radioed that he was returning to land. After turning an early crosswind and leveling his wings, the canopy came open in flight. The pilot made a mayday call, held the control stick full forward, and made a landing on a dirt road off the departure end of the runway. According to the aircraft manufacturer, if the aft hinged canopy opens in flight, a significant increase in drag occurs and controllability becomes marginal. An FAA inspector examined the aircraft's canopy after the accident. He could not identify any malfunctions with either of the canopy latches. He then functionally checked both of the corresponding latch closed micro switches and the enunciator light circuits, and found that they were working properly.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Diamond KATANA accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Jul 1996 | Diamond KATANA DA-20-A1 | Vacaville, California, United States | Blue Ridge Aeronautics | No injuries | - |
| 24 Aug 1996 | Diamond KATANA DA20-A1 | S. Lake Tahoe, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Dec 1999 | Rhea KR-2 | Moreno Valley, California, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 18 Dec 1999 | Cessna 172A | Shoshone, California, United States | Charles R. Christman | No injuries | - |
| 9 Sep 1999 | Piper PA-22-150 | Strathmore, California, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 12 Sep 1999 | Cessna 172N | San Jose, California, United States | Concord Flight Intl, Inc | No injuries | - |
| 30 Apr 1999 | Schweizer 269C-1 | Concord, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 14 Sep 1999 | Robinson R-22 | Azusa, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |