Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA 40 accident near Norwood, Massachusetts, May 16, 2009
On May 16, 2009 at about 7:48 pm local time, a Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA 40, registered N323JT, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Norwood, Massachusetts (Norwood Memorial Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout, which resulted in excessive side loads to the right main landing gear and the separation of the outer main landing gear rib from the right wing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 16, 2009 · about 7:48 pm local time
- Place
- Norwood, Massachusetts · Norwood Memorial Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA 40
- Registration
- N323JT · registry record · serial 40.714
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After the airplane touched down during the student pilot's first solo landing in the composite, fixed tricycle-gear airplane, his flight instructor observed the right wing rise and the nose pitch up slightly, then heard the sound of screeching tires. The right main landing gear subsequently collapsed, and the airplane veered off the left side of the runway. Marks on the runway, along with damage to the landing gear tires, revealed that after touching down, the airplane entered a left skidding turn with only the nose and left main landing gear tires in contact with the runway. Near the end of the turn, the right main landing gear tire deflated when it contacted the runway in a skid. The right main landing gear metal wheel rim then contacted the runway, also in a skid, resulting in excessive side loading to the right main landing gear and separation of the landing gear and outer landing gear rib from the right wing. Winds at the time were calm. An examination of the bonded area between the rib and the vertical webbing of the forward and aft wing spars, and between the rib and the inside surface of the upper wing skin, revealed void areas in the adhesive. However, calculations indicated that the void areas would not have affected the outcome of the event due to the extent of the excessive side forces subjected to the landing gear.
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 on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Capability exceeded
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 17 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 226 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 31, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 2,535 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-MIA+ (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Waltzing Matilda Training LLC
The flight
- Departed from: OWD Norwood MA at 7:43 pm
- Destination: OWD Norwood MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 4,008 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from OWD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.