Diamond DA 40 N537MA

Summary

On 27 October 2018 at about 21:40 local time, a Diamond DA 40 registered N537MA, operated by CAE Oxford Aviation Academy, was involved in an accident near Marana, 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

27 October 2018 at 21:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Marana, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Marana Rgnl (AVQ)

Coordinates

32.4128, -111.2208

Aircraft

Diamond DA 40

Registration

N537MA

Category

Airplane

Year built

2005

Engines

1

Operator

CAE Oxford Aviation Academy

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mesa → Marana

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA19CA038

Nobody was injured.

The student pilot's excessive taxi speed during a turn from the runway to a taxiway, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with a taxiway sign.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The solo student pilot reported that, while en route to the nontowered airport, she obtained local weather and reported on the common traffic advisory frequency that she would be entering the downwind for runway 30. Another pilot in the traffic pattern reported that they were using runway 12, so the student turned the airplane 180° to enter the downwind for runway 12. She added that, during the landing roll, she applied brakes and attempted to turn right off the runway, but the "speed was still high." She realized that she would not be able to make the turn, so she attempted to turn left back onto the runway. Subsequently, the airplane skidded off the runway to the right and impacted a taxiway sign. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The deputy safety officer of the flight school reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport’s automated weather observation station reported that, about 5 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 350° at 4 knots. The student landed the airplane on runway 12.    

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.