Diamond Aircraft Industries DA-20-C-1 accident near Pueblo, Colorado, September 8, 2008
On September 8, 2008 at about 5:47 pm local time, a Diamond Aircraft Industries DA-20-C-1, registered N939DA, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Pueblo, Colorado (Pueblo Memorial airport). It was a public-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's inability to maintain aircraft control due to an encounter with wake turbulence from a preceding larger aircraft. Contributing to the accident was the instructor pilot's failure to intervene.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 2008 · about 5:47 pm local time
- Place
- Pueblo, Colorado · Pueblo Memorial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Diamond Aircraft Industries DA-20-C-1
- Registration
- N939DA · registry record · serial C0505
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the flight instructor and student pilot, while maneuvering to land, the accident airplane encountered wake turbulence from a preceding C-130 airplane. The accident airplane then began an uncommanded pitch, roll, and descent that could not be arrested prior to an impact with terrain. A review of radar data revealed that the flight path of the accident airplane was in an area favorable for a wake vortex encounter. No anomalies were reported by the flight instructor and student pilot or noted during the postaccident examination of the airframe and engine.
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
- Aircraft wake turb encounter during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Attain/maintain not possible
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Wake turbulence › Ability to respond/compensate
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Instructor/check pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,025 hours in all; 288 in this make and model; 915 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 6 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 88.7 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, August 1, 2008; 39.3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,764 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental IO-240 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Doss Aviation Inc
The flight
- Departed from: PUB Pueblo CO at 4:25 pm
- Runway 08L, 10,496 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,900 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 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 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number DFW08TA225.