Diamond DA 40 N316MA

Summary

On 15 August 2011 at about 19:35 local time, a Diamond DA 40 registered N316MA, operated by Honaker Aviation Inc, was involved in an accident near Hodgenville, Kentucky, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 August 2011 at 19:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Hodgenville, Kentucky, United States

Nearest airport

Private Strip (NONE)

Coordinates

37.5450, -85.7331

Aircraft

Diamond DA 40

Registration

N316MA

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Honaker Aviation Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hodgenville → Cambridge

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA11LA454

3 people were seriously injured.

The pilot's inadequate takeoff performance planning, which resulted in collision with an obstacle during takeoff from a turf runway that was not long enough for the given conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot initiated takeoff from an upsloping, 1,133-foot-long grass airstrip with two passengers onboard. The airplane struck 40-foot tall trees located 1,150 feet from the point where the takeoff ground roll was initiated. Subsequently, the airplane struck three power lines and impacted the ground. According to information from the closest airport with a weather recording system, the wind was most likely a headwind at the time of the accident. Calculations based on the performance data in the airplane’s flight manual indicated that a takeoff distance of about 1,570 feet was required to clear a 50-foot obstacle. A postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.