Piper PA-28-235 and Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 20-A1 accident near Provo, Utah, March 6, 1999
On March 6, 1999 at about 8:30 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-28-235 (N4312A) and Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 20-A1 (N189DA), were involved in the same accident near Provo, Utah (Provo Municipal airport). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot exercising poor judgment by ignoring proper procedures/directives, his intentional selection of the wrong runway for takeoff, and his failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout. Factors were his ostentatious display, the other airplane moving on the ground, and the other pilot's failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout.
The pilot exercising poor judgment by ignoring proper procedures/directives, his intentional selection of the wrong runway for takeoff, and his failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout. Factors were his ostentatious display, the other airplane moving on the ground, and the other pilot's failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 6, 1999 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Provo, Utah · Provo Municipal
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-28-235 · all PA-28-235s on the register
- Registration
- N4312A · no longer on the register · serial 28-10249
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 20-A1
- Registration
- N189DA · registry record · serial 10189
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-28-235 final · quoted from the NTSB record
N189DA, a Diamond-DA 20-A1 was one of several airplanes in the traffic pattern for runway 31, which was the active runway. The airplane landed and was on landing rollout when it was struck by N4312A, a Piper PA-28-235 that was on takeoff roll on runway 18. The collision occurred at the intersection of runways 31 and 18. The pilot of the piper said he saw two airplanes in the traffic pattern, and heard both pilots advise of their positions and intentions. The pilot of the piper announced that he would be taxiing onto runway 18 for departure because he had 'plenty of time to depart before either of the two aircraft were in position to land.' He did not see the diamond, which was ahead of the other two airplanes. Two other pilots reported having near collisions with the piper earlier that day, and one pilot reported having a near collision with the piper two months earlier.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 20-A1 final · quoted from the NTSB record
N189DA, a Diamond-DA 20-A1 was one of several airplanes in the traffic pattern for runway 31, which was the active runway. The airplane landed and was on landing rollout when it was struck by N4312A, a Piper PA-28-235 that was on takeoff roll on runway 18. The collision occurred at the intersection of runways 31 and 18. The pilot of the piper said he saw two airplanes in the traffic pattern, and heard both pilots advise of their positions and intentions. The pilot of the piper announced that he would be taxiing onto runway 18 for departure because he had 'plenty of time to depart before either of the two aircraft were in position to land.' He did not see the diamond, which was ahead of the other two airplanes. Two other pilots reported having near collisions with the piper earlier that day, and one pilot reported having a near collision with the piper two months earlier.
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 for the Piper PA-28-235 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 90 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 55 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,815 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 24, 1998; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: PVU at 8:30 pm
- Destination: RIF Richfield UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 6,937 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from PVU
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
The factual record for the Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 20-A1 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 249 hours in all; 173 in this make and model; 53 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 224 as pilot in command; 48 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,799 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, February 17, 1999; 67 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,609 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912-F3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVU at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 7,091 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.