Diamond DA20-C1 N956CT

Summary

On 13 July 2008 at about 20:30 local time, a Diamond DA20-C1 registered N956CT, operated by Tidewater Flight Center LLC, was involved in an accident near Norfolk, Virginia, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 July 2008 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Norfolk, Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Chesapeake Regional Airport (KCPK)

Coordinates

36.6656, -76.3206

Aircraft

Diamond DA20-C1

Registration

N956CT

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Tidewater Flight Center LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Norfolk → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA08CA148

Nobody was injured.

The flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the student pilot while taxiing for takeoff. A factor contributing to the accident was the student pilot's failure to maintain a visual lookout.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The student pilot (SP) stated he added a little more power than required to start the taxi. His flight instructor (CFI) informed him to decrease the power, and looked down to tune the airplane radios. The SP initiated a right turn towards the runway, and to avoid a parked airplane. The SP did not see a light pole that was off the left side of the airplane, and the left wing collided with the light pole. Full brakes were applied by the CFI, and the airplane came to stop. When asked if the flight instructor said anything before the collision, the SP stated "no." The student pilot stated he just failed to see the pole while maneuvering to the right, resulting in the left wing colliding with the pole.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.