Diamond DA 40 NG N755LA

Summary

On 21 March 2024 at about 17:00 local time, a Diamond DA 40 NG registered N755LA was involved in an accident near Coolidge, Arizona, 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

21 March 2024 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Coolidge, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Coolidge Municipal Airport (P08)

Coordinates

32.9375, -111.4258

Aircraft

Diamond DA 40 NG

Registration

N755LA

Category

Airplane

Year built

2023

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mesa → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR24LA116

Nobody was injured.

The student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing in gusty wind conditions. Contributing, was the failure of the flight instructor to intervene in a timely manner.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight instructor reported that the student pilot initially flared high for the landing and was instructed to lower the nose and add power to correct for the slow airspeed. The student pilot corrected to a normal landing attitude when a wind gust caused the airplane to drift to the left of centerline. Subsequently, the airplane began to sink towards the runway with the right wing down, which struck the runway. The airplane then bounced, and the instructor took control of the airplane and was able to safely recover and land the airplane. Post flight examination of the airplane revealed that the right aileron sustained substantial damage. Both pilots stated that there were no preaccident failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.