Diamond DA20-C1 KATANA N905CT

Summary

On 16 July 2003 at about 01:30 local time, a Diamond DA20-C1 KATANA registered N905CT was involved in an accident near Hillsboro, Texas, 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

16 July 2003 at 01:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Hillsboro, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Hillsboro Municipal (5T5)

Coordinates

32.0986, -97.0839

Aircraft

Diamond DA20-C1 KATANA

Registration

N905CT

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hillsboro → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD03CA065

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll. A factor in the accident was the pilot's lack of total flying experience.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the takeoff roll, as the airplane accelerated through 45-50 knots, the airplane veered abruptly off the right side of the runway. The pilot stated that he then began to rotate to avoid the runway lights. The airplane struck a runway light and settled in a shallow ditch. The pilot reported that he reduced engine power at this time. The airplane then proceed through the ditch, shearing off the nose landing gear, buckling the main landing gear, and damaging the propeller. The airplane traveled another 20 yards before coming to a stop. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane, and an inspection of the accident site and wreckage did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane's brakes. Evidence was found to indicate that the airplane departed the runway about 600 feet from the takeoff runway threshold. An automated weather observation at the airport near the time of the accident indicated that the winds were from 120 degrees at 5 knots. The pilot reported that the airplane veered off toward the right during the takeoff roll, and that the wind was blowing toward the left side of the runway. The pilot's total flight experience was reported to be about 73 hours.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.