Diamond Aircraft Ind GMBH DA 40 accident near Cape Girardeau, Missouri, July 14, 2009
On July 14, 2009 at about 2:15 am local time, a Diamond Aircraft Ind GMBH DA 40, registered N544DS, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi near Cape Girardeau, Missouri (Cape Girardeau Regional Airpor airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The airplane's inoperative brakes while taxiing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 2009 · about 2:15 am local time
- Place
- Cape Girardeau, Missouri · Cape Girardeau Regional Airpor · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Diamond Aircraft Ind GMBH DA 40
- Registration
- N544DS · no longer on the register · serial 40044
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot flew his airplane to a mechanic at a fixed base operator (FBO) for repairs to the airplane's brakes. The pilot reported that next day he called the mechanic and the mechanic indicated that the repairs would be complete and the airplane could be picked up later in the day. The pilot called the FBO where the person at the front desk found his keys and indicated that they would be waiting for him at the front desk. There was no note on the keys indicating that the repairs were not complete. The pilot did not detect that the brakes were not repaired during his preflight. The airplane did not stop when pressure was applied to both brakes during the taxi and it impacted a standing fuel truck. The pilot said that the mechanic left him a voice mail message indicating the brakes had not been repaired and that parts would be in the next day; however, he was not aware of the mechanic's message until after the accident occurred.
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
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during taxi
- Ground collision during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Inoperative
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Ground vehicle › Ability to respond/compensate
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 181 hours in all; 131 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 109 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 680 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 3, 2008
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 M1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CGI Cape Girardeau MO at 2:15 am
- Destination: DXE Dexter MO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.