Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA 20-A1 accident near Pompano Beach, Florida, January 14, 2011
On January 14, 2011 at about 7:34 pm local time, a Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA 20-A1, registered N840DF, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Pompano Beach, Florida (Pompano Beach Airpark airport). It was a personal 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
A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 14, 2011 · about 7:34 pm local time
- Place
- Pompano Beach, Florida · Pompano Beach Airpark · 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 20-A1
- Registration
- N840DF · no longer on the register · serial 10067
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The purpose of the flight was to perform three touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. The pilot observed no discrepancies during her preflight inspection of the airplane or during the first takeoff and landing. During the second takeoff, about 100 feet above the runway, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a grassy area adjacent to the runway, and, during the landing roll, the airplane's nose landing gear struck a berm. During a postaccident operational test, the engine started on the first attempt and ran for 15 minutes with no anomalies.
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 engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 83 hours in all; 79 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 43 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 1, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,917 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 5, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 1,609 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PMP Pompano Beach FL at 6:15 pm
- Destination: PMP Pompano Beach FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 3,502 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from PMP
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.