Diamond DA20 accident near St. Croix, August 7, 2016
On August 7, 2016 at about 3:23 pm local time, a 2007 Diamond DA20, registered N828BB, was destroyed in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near St. Croix (Henry E Rohlsen airport). It was an instructional 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 flight instructor's improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a loss of airplane control. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the student pilot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 7, 2016 · about 3:23 pm local time
- Place
- St. Croix · Henry E Rohlsen · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Diamond DA20 C1, built 2007
- Registration
- N828BB · no longer on the register · serial C0428
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot was performing an approach and landing under the supervision of the flight instructor. The flight instructor reported that the student completed a "normal" traffic pattern but that the airplane bounced on landing and that he immediately took control of the airplane. The flight instructor initiated a go-around and established a climb; however, the engine lost power, and the airplane descended into terrain. An air traffic controller who witnessed the accident said that, just before touchdown, the airplane banked left, and the left wing appeared to hit the ground. He added that the airplane then bounced four to five times before it banked "hard" left and departed the runway. The airplane then impacted trees about 1,700 ft past the departure end, and 400 ft left of, the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane and the engine revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation, and cut tree branches located at the accident site indicated that the engine was producing power at the time of impact.
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
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other person › Instructor/check pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 506 hours in all; 100 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 34.5 hours in all; 1 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,982.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 24, 2016; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,770 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Contiental IO-240B-B17B (piston); 1,983 hours total
- Operator: Bohlke International Airways INC
The flight
- Departed from: STX Christiansted at 6:30 pm
- Destination: STX Christiansted
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 10,004 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 79°F (26°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from STX
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on June 7, 2017. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Instructor's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Student Interview Summary | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | ATC Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Witness Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Wreckage Diagram | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Photos | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.