Diamond DA 20 N143MA

Summary

On 13 May 2018 at about 21:20 local time, a Diamond DA 20 registered N143MA, operated by Falcon Aviation Academy, was involved in an accident near LaGrange, Georgia, 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

13 May 2018 at 21:20

Classification

Accident

Location

LaGrange, Georgia, United States

Nearest airport

Lagrange-Callaway (LGC)

Coordinates

33.0092, -85.0697

Aircraft

Diamond DA 20

Registration

N143MA

Category

Airplane

Year built

2003

Engines

1

Operator

Falcon Aviation Academy

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Atlanta → LaGrange

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA18CA282

Nobody was injured.

The student pilot’s failure to maintain lateral control during a soft-field takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight instructor reported that, during a soft-field takeoff, the student kept the stick back and allowed the airplane's nose to rise. The airplane drifted to the left and he reminded the student to apply right rudder and right aileron. He added that it seemed like the student applied too much right aileron, and the right wing was close to dragging on the runway. The flight instructor prepared to take the flight controls, and the student overcorrected to the left and the left wing impacted the ground. The flight instructor took control of the airplane, reduced power, and taxied to park without further incident. The student pilot reported that, during a soft-field takeoff, about 30 to 35 knots, the airplane lifted off the ground and encountered a crosswind that rolled the airplane to the right. The right wing dragged on the ground, he rolled the airplane to the left, and the left wing then impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left aileron. The school's chief flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.