Diamond DA20-A1 N534SS
21 October 1997 · West Palm Beach, Florida, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 21 October 1997 at about 16:20 local time, a Diamond DA20-A1 registered N534SS, operated by Erik Richard Lindqvist, was involved in an accident near West Palm Beach, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 16:20
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- West Palm Beach, Florida, United States
- Nearest airport
- Palm Beach International (PBI)
- Coordinates
- 26.6705, -80.0607
- Aircraft
- Diamond DA20-A1
- Registration
- N534SS
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Erik Richard Lindqvist
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Melbourne → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ATL98LA006
People
2 people were seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
the pilot's inadvertent use of the wrong runway, and his improper decision to continue the approach behind a large airplane (MD-80), which resulted in a wake turbulence encounter, loss of aircraft control, and collision with terrain.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
According to the pilot of a small airplane (Diamond Aircraft Industries DA20-A1) he was cleared to land on 27R. While on final approach at about 200 feet, a large airplane (MD-80) passed close to him on the right. The controller warned the pilot of possible wake turbulence. The airplane then rolled and crashed into the ground. During an investigation, an FAA inspector stated (and air traffic control audio tapes confirmed) that the pilot had been cleared to land on runway 27L, and he had been advised that his traffic was an MD-80, landing on 27R. After being cleared to land on 27L, the airplane deviated towards runway 27R. The FAA inspector stated that air traffic controllers observed the nose of the airplane go up, then the airplane rolled left and impacted the ground in a left wing low and partially inverted attitude.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Diamond DA20 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Nov 1995 | Diamond DA20-A1 | San Carlos, California, United States | Diamond Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 4 Sep 1999 | Diamond DA20-A1 | Cedar Key, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Oct 2002 | Diamond DA20-C1 | Grand Junction, Colorado, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 16 Jul 2003 | Diamond DA20-C1 KATANA | Hillsboro, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 21 Sep 2005 | Diamond DA20-C1 | Pleasanton, Texas, United States | Check-Six Aviation, Inc. | Fatal | 2 |
| 25 Jun 2007 | Diamond DA20-C1 | La Pine, Oregon, United States | Professional Air | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Apr 1997 | Cessna 152 | La Crosse, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 10 Apr 1997 | Navion A | Quincy, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 13 Apr 1997 | Diamond DA 20-A1 | Hollywood, Florida, United States | Pelican Airways | No injuries | - |
| 15 Jul 1997 | Cessna 172N | Lakeland, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 18 Apr 1997 | Cessna 150M | Ormond Beach, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 Jul 1997 | Bellanca 8GCBC | Bunnell, Florida, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |