Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA 20-C1 accident near Pueblo, Colorado, October 24, 2011
On October 24, 2011 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA 20-C1, registered N942DA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Pueblo, Colorado (Pueblo Memorial Airport). It was a public-use flight under public-use (government) rules. No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The certified flight instructor’s delayed remedial action. Contributing to the accident was the student pilot's failure to maintain control prior to the landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 24, 2011 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Pueblo, Colorado · Pueblo Memorial Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA 20-C1
- Registration
- N942DA · registry record · serial C0442
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot and certified flight instructor (CFI) were practicing touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. While on the downwind leg in the traffic pattern, the CFI retarded the throttle to simulate an emergency. The student pilot continued the approach and initiated a forward slip to correct for an altitude deviation. He continued the slip until 25 feet above ground level, at which time he added power and initiated a go-around. The airplane started to roll to the left and, at 20 degrees, the CFI took control of the airplane. The CFI attempted to counter the roll, but the airplane was unresponsive, and he decided to land. The airplane impacted in a left-wing-low attitude. The empennage separated from the fuselage, and all four engine mounts were broken. The operator reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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 control in flight during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,929 hours in all; 190 in this make and model; 190 in the last 90 days; 57 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: July 26, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 0 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,659 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 8, 2011
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-240-B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Doss Aviation INC
The flight
- Departed from: PUB Pueblo CO at 9:05 pm
- Destination: PUB Pueblo CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26R, 10,498 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 14 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from KPUB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.