Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA 40 NG accident near Monticello, Iowa, December 28, 2024
On December 28, 2024 at about 9:00 pm local time, a 2022 Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA 40 NG, registered N478SA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Monticello, Iowa (Monticello Regional 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 on-ground collision with a deer on the runway during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 28, 2024 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Monticello, Iowa · Monticello Regional · 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 40 NG, built 2022
- Registration
- N478SA · registry record · serial 40.NC208
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while in the landing rollout, he saw a deer on the runway and immediately started to apply brakes; however, the deer walked into the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident failures or malfunctions 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
- Wildlife encounter (non-bird) during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on equipment
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Ability to respond/compensate
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 495 hours in all; 227 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 416 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 18, 2024
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 384 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 5, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 2,888 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Austro E4-A (piston); 294 hours total
- Operator: M U D Y Properties LLC
The flight
- Departed from: DBQ Dubuque IA at 8:00 pm
- Destination: MXO Monticello IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 4,400 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from KMXO
Weather report (METAR): KMXO 282055Z AUTO 20005KT 10SM CLR 10/08 A2989
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on April 22, 2025. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | 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.