Diamond DA 20-A1 N630DA

Summary

On 13 June 2003 at about 16:00 local time, a Diamond DA 20-A1 registered N630DA, operated by Nathan L. Bennett, was involved in an accident near Eureka, Utah, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 June 2003 at 16:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Eureka, Utah, United States

Coordinates

39.8383, -112.3006

Aircraft

Diamond DA 20-A1

Registration

N630DA

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Nathan L. Bennett

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Provo → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN03LA104

2 people had minor injuries.

the pilot's improper in-flight planning and failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing factors include high density altitude, hilly terrain, low airspeed and the subsequent inadvertent stall/mush.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, he was maneuvering over the sand dunes between Eureka and Delta. The temperature was rising and it started getting "bumpy" so he elected to return to Provo. While flying over the mountains west of Eureka, approximately 1000 feet above ground level, his "controls became mush." The airplane began descending rapidly, at which time the pilot "put in full prop[eller] and power, pitch[ing] for 75 kts." It was apparent that the airplane would not clear the rising terrain, so the pilot reversed course towards the "canyon." The pilot stated the airspeed was "right above stall speed." Subsequently, the aircraft collided with the trees. The airplane's empennage was separated from the fuselage.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.