Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 20-A1 accident near Eureka, Utah, June 13, 2003
On June 13, 2003 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 20-A1, registered N630DA, was destroyed in an accident near Eureka, Utah. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper in-flight planning and failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing factors include high density altitude, hilly terrain, low airspeed and the subsequent inadvertent stall/mush.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 13, 2003 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Eureka, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 20-A1
- Registration
- N630DA · registry record · serial 10300
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he was maneuvering over the sand dunes between Eureka and Delta. The temperature was rising and it started getting "bumpy" so he elected to return to Provo. While flying over the mountains west of Eureka, approximately 1000 feet above ground level, his "controls became mush." The airplane began descending rapidly, at which time the pilot "put in full prop[eller] and power, pitch[ing] for 75 kts." It was apparent that the airplane would not clear the rising terrain, so the pilot reversed course towards the "canyon." The pilot stated the airspeed was "right above stall speed." Subsequently, the aircraft collided with the trees. The airplane's empennage was separated from the fuselage.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 179 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 134 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 23, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,316 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 31, 2003; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,609 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVU Provo UT at 2:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from PVU, 35 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.