Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 20-C1 accident near Pueblo, Colorado, March 21, 2008
On March 21, 2008 at about 11:10 pm local time, a Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 20-C1, registered N954DA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Pueblo, Colorado (Pueblo Memorial 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 failure of the student pilot, and then the flight instructor to maintain aircraft control during the landing. Contributing factors were the flight instructor's delayed remedial action, and the crosswind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 21, 2008 · about 11:10 pm local time · cases in 2008
- Place
- Pueblo, Colorado · Pueblo Memorial · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 20-C1
- Registration
- N954DA · registry record · serial C0450
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Prior to the initial approach, the tower reported the wind was from 280 degrees at 22 knots. During the final approach to runway 26L, the airplane encountered gusty crosswind conditions. Approximately 15 to 20 above ground level with the student pilot at the airplane controls, the airplane nose was 20 degrees to the right and the wings were level. At that time, the flight instructor took over control of the airplane and applied control inputs to correct for the crosswind. The airplane continued to the right and descended "with no response to my inputs." The instructor then applied full power and attempted a go-around. The airplane "lightly" touched down on the runway, however, continued to the right side of the runway surface and contacted rising terrain. Subsequently, the left main landing gear separated and the airplane came to rest upright off the runway.
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 control in flight during landing defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Not specified
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › (general) › Not specified
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 808 hours in all; 66 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 63 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
No details recorded.
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-240-B17 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Doss Aviation Ifs
The flight
- Departed from: CO80 Fowler CO
- Destination: PUB Pueblo CO
- Runway 26L, 3,767 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 22 knots
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 11:20 pm from pub
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N954DA on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Continental IO-240-B17 111 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Pueblo Memorial · nearest airport
- Fowler Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Colorado 2,860 since 1982 · 383 in the last ten years
- Colorado 7,484 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/DEN08CA067.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.