Diamond DA 40 N512DS

Summary

On 12 May 2007 at about 03:03 local time, a Diamond DA 40 registered N512DS, operated by Southwest Flight Center, was involved in an accident near Lake Pleasant, Arizona, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 May 2007 at 03:03

Classification

Accident

Location

Lake Pleasant, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

33.8742, -112.2875

Aircraft

Diamond DA 40

Registration

N512DS

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Southwest Flight Center

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Scottsdale → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

LAX07FA160

2 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient altitude above the surface of water during an intentional buzzing maneuver. Contributing to the accident was the nighttime lighting environment.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot telephoned an acquaintance who was boating on a lake, and informed him that he planned to overfly the lake. At the end of the evening's civil twilight, witnesses observed the airplane approach the lake. The pilot telephoned the acquaintance and asked him to shine a light toward the airplane to facilitate being located on the lake. Other recreational boaters in the vicinity reported observing the airplane perform low altitude maneuvers, including a steep pull-up and a 70-degree angle bank. Witnesses estimated that some maneuvers were performed within a wingspan or two above the lake. The witnesses said the engine was not sputtering and sounded "real strong." During one of the buzzing maneuvers, the airplane descended into the lake, fragmented, and sank. The accident occurred minutes after the end of civil twilight with a marginally visible horizon. A majority of the wreckage, to include the engine, was not recovered.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.