Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA20-C1 accident near Indianapolis, Indiana, February 21, 2021
On February 21, 2021 at about 4:10 pm local time, a 2006 Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA20-C1, registered N465US, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Indianapolis, Indiana (Indianapolis Metro airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 pilot’s improper landing flare that resulted in a bounced touch and go landing and subsequent nose wheel separation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 21, 2021 · about 4:10 pm local time
- Place
- Indianapolis, Indiana · Indianapolis Metro · 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 DA20-C1 NO SERIES, built 2006
- Registration
- N465US · registry record · serial C0405
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot flew to a local airport to practice touch and go landings, entered the traffic pattern, and landed on the active runway. Upon touchdown, the airplane bounced. The pilot added power and recalled that the nose jumped up slightly during the climb. The pilot continued to his destination. During the landing, when the nose touched the runway surface, the pilot heard a “scraping” sound. After the airplane came to a complete stop, the two occupants exited the airplane uninjured. Examination of the airplane revealed that the wheel of the nose landing gear was missing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the composite firewall. The missing wheel was later located at the previous airport where the pilot had performed the bounced touch and go landing. Examination of the wheel and tire assembly did not reveal any pre-existing anomalies. It is likely that the nose wheel assembly separated from the airplane during the bounced landing.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 107 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 37 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 28, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,289 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 18, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 1,764 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-240-B (piston); 4,178 hours total
- Operator: Sweet Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: SMD Fort Wayne IN at 2:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 4,004 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.31 inHg
- Observation at 11:15 am from KTYQ, 11 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KTYQ 211615Z AUTO 15009KT 10SM CLR M02/M07 A3031 RMK AO2 T10161067
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on August 16, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NTSB Form 6120 Pilot Operator Report CEN21LA134 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | _memorandum for the Record Summary of FAA Inspector Findings CEN21LA134 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo Array CEN21LA134 | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N465US the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.