Diamond Aicraft Industries Inc DA 20-C1 accident near Odessa, Texas, June 27, 2013
On June 27, 2013 at about 3:00 am local time, a Diamond Aicraft Industries Inc DA 20-C1, registered N322FS, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Odessa, Texas (Odessa-Schlemeyer Field Airpor). 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 pilot's use of an improper flap setting and a subsequent inadequate flare of the airplane, which resulted in a bounced landing, and the pilot's delay in executing a go-around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 27, 2013 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Odessa, Texas · Odessa-Schlemeyer Field Airpor · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Diamond Aicraft Industries Inc DA 20-C1
- Registration
- N322FS · registry record · serial CO279
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the 4-mile final leg for landing in night visual meteorological conditions, the pilot set the flaps at 15 degrees for the approach and landing. According to the manufacturer's flight information manual, the flap position for landing is 45 degrees. The pilot stated that she kept the airplane speed "up" so that the airplane would not lose too much altitude and that, although the approach was a "little low," it was still within limits. The airplane touched down on the runway and bounced three times before the pilot increased engine power to perform a go-around. As the engine power increased, the airplane nosed down and contacted the runway, damaging the nosewheel and firewall. The pilot's use of partial flaps at a low altitude with a high approach speed resulted in more energy than a typical landing approach and the pilot was unable to arrest the descent rate before impact. Although high wind conditions and gusts prevailed at the time of the accident, the wind was within the manufacturer's maximum demonstrated crosswind velocity for the airplane.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- Organizational issues › Support/oversight/monitoring › Training › (general) › Operator
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 196 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 104 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 22, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,764 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental Motors IO-240-B3B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Flight Source Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: GTU Gerogetown TX
- Destination: ODO Odessa TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 5,003 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 160° at 20 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from ODO
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN13LA380.