Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA 40 NG accident near Petersburg, Virginia, June 29, 2026
On June 29, 2026 at about 11:45 pm local time, a 2021 Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA 40 NG, registered N602RF, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Petersburg, Virginia (Tri Cities Executive/Dinwiddie airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 2026 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Petersburg, Virginia · Tri Cities Executive/Dinwiddie · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA 40 NG, built 2021
- Registration
- N602RF · registry record · serial 40.NC143
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On June 29, 2026, about 1945 eastern daylight time (EDT), a Diamond Aircraft Industries Inc. DA40 NG airplane, N602RF, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Petersburg, Virginia. The flight instructor sustained serious injuries, and the student pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight instructor reported that during the initial climb following a go-around on Runway 05 at Dinwiddie County Airport (PTB), the occupants heard a loud bang near midfield, followed by a reduction in engine power. The flight instructor assumed control of the airplane and observed that engine power decreased to below about 40%, resulting in a loss of expected climb performance; the engine continued to produce partial power. The airplane was unable to achieve sufficient climb performance to clear obstacles beyond the departure end of the runway environment. While assessing available areas for a forced landing, the flight instructor maneuvered the airplane, which resulted in activation of the stall warning horn. The flight instructor discontinued the turn and secured the engine by moving the fuel selector to the off position before the airplane impacted treetops. The airplane came to rest inverted in a densely wooded area about 1 mile northeast of the departure end of Runway 05, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and empennage. A data card from the avionics installed in the airplane was retained and forwarded to the NTSB Recorders Laboratory for flight and engine data extraction. The wreckage has been recovered to a secure facility for further examination.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 961.7 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 20, 2026; 2.9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,888 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Rva Flyboys LLC
The flight
- Departed from: RIC Richmond VA at 10:23 pm
- Destination: RIC Richmond VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 05, 5,002 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 7:35 pm from KPTB, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KPTB 292335Z AUTO 07004KT 10SM -RA CLR 28/20 A3011 RMK AO2 T02750196
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.