Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 20-A1 accident near Naples, Florida, March 31, 2002
On March 31, 2002 at about 5:42 pm local time, a Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 20-A1, registered N122SE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Naples, Florida (Naples Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 31, 2002 · about 5:42 pm local time
- Place
- Naples, Florida · Naples Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 20-A1
- Registration
- N122SE · no longer on the register · serial 10022
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, shortly after takeoff, the engine lost power. The pilot attempted to return to the departure end of the runway at approximately 100 above ground level and collided with the ground adjacent to the runway substantially damaging the wings and fuselage. Examination of the engine logbooks found that the engine had accumulated 1900 hours total time. The engine was run to full throttle and obtained 5325 RPM on an optical tachometer. The engine operated for about 10 minutes, with no indication of power loss.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 305 hours in all; 8 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,093 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,609 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 A3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: APF Naples at 5:40 pm
- Destination: ISM Kissimmee FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 05, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 5:42 pm from APF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket 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.