Diamond DA 40 N53SL

Summary

On 30 March 2018 at about 22:46 local time, a Diamond DA 40 registered N53SL, operated by CAE Oxford Aviation Academy Phoenix Inc, was involved in an accident near Gila Bend, Arizona, United States. One person was 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

30 March 2018 at 22:46

Classification

Accident

Location

Gila Bend, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Gila Bend Muni (E63)

Coordinates

32.9589, -112.6794

Aircraft

Diamond DA 40

Registration

N53SL

Category

Airplane

Year built

2005

Engines

1

Operator

CAE Oxford Aviation Academy Phoenix Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mesa → Gila Bend

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA18CA189

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to properly set the parking brake, which resulted in an impact with a pole.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, after taxiing to the ramp, he set the parking brake. He added that he released the foot brake, the airplane rolled forward, and impacted a pole. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The flight safety officer reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He added that, after the accident, he verified proper operation of the parking brake.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.