Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA20-C1 accident near Fort Carson, Colorado, January 25, 2022
On January 25, 2022 at about 2:28 pm local time, a 2008 Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA20-C1, registered N974DA, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Fort Carson, Colorado (Butts Aaf (Fort Carson) airport). It was an instructional 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 windshear encounter on short final approach, which resulted in an excessive decent rate and ground impact.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 25, 2022 · about 2:28 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Carson, Colorado · Butts Aaf (Fort Carson) · 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, built 2008
- Registration
- N974DA · no longer on the register · serial C0484
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that he and the student pilot were conducting touch-and-go landings. As the pilot turned from base to final, a “fairly significant crosswind” that had shifted while they were in the traffic pattern, pushed the airplane left of the runway centerline. After realigning the airplane with the extended runway centerline, right aileron and “nearly full left rudder deflection” were required to stay on course. When the airplane was on short final, about 200 ft agl, it encountered windshear and descended rapidly impacting the ground about 200 ft short of the runway threshold. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mounts. The pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The flight instructor reported that he took control of the airplane to initiate a go-around but was unable to arrest the descent before ground impact. About the time of the accident, the student pilot was landing on runway 31 with wind from 360o at 9 knots.
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 lift during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Windshear or thunderstorm during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent rate › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Knowledge › Knowledge of meteorologic cond › Instructor/check pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Weather planning › Instructor/check pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Windshear › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Windshear › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,744 hours in all; 1,036 in this make and model; 2,732 as pilot in command; 1,467 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 12, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 31 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 4 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,371.3 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, November 5, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 1,764 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors IO-240-B32B (piston); 8,371 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KPUB Pueblo CO at 2:03 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 4,500 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 17 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,400 ft
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 7:39 am from KFCS
Weather report (METAR): KFCS 251439Z 02017G22KT 10SM SCT034 M03/M08 A2997 RMK SLP199 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on February 9, 2022. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Correspondence - Flight Instructor | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Correspondence - FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | FAA Wind Shear Document | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.