Diamond Aircraft DA 40 accident near Portsmouth, New Hampshire, January 3, 2021
On January 3, 2021 at about 4:18 pm local time, a 2004 Diamond Aircraft DA 40, registered N489RS, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (to runway) near Portsmouth, New Hampshire (Portsmouth International airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The instructor’s multiple applications of the airplane’s brakes during high-speed taxi over a short duration, which overheated and ignited the right main landing gear wheel brake assembly.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 3, 2021 · about 4:18 pm local time · cases in 2021
- Place
- Portsmouth, New Hampshire · Portsmouth International · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Diamond Aircraft DA 40, built 2004 · all DA 40s on the register
- Registration
- N489RS · registry record · serial 40.379
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After landing, the flight instructor assumed control of the airplane during the roll, taxied to the hold-short line at the approach end of the runway, and waited for landing traffic. Soon after, the pilot of the landing airplane announced over the tower radio frequency that the airplane holding short was “on fire.” The instructor confirmed that smoke was rising from beneath the right wing and both he and the pilot receiving instruction egressed the airplane without injury. Examination of video revealed fire emanating from the right main landing gear wheel and brake assembly, wheel pant, and involved the right wing, which was substantially damaged. Data downloaded from the airplane’s multifunction display revealed high groundspeeds during taxi after landing, and rapid decelerations consistent with hard braking actions before the airplane reached the hold short line. Postaccident examination revealed normal wear of the brake pads and no pre-accident mechanical anomalies. Examination of the fuel cell directly above the right main landing gear wheel and brake assembly revealed that it was intact with no leaks and contained about 15 gallons of fuel. Based on the available evidence, it is likely that the instructor’s high taxi speeds, which required multiple brake applications, resulted in the right brake assembly overheating and catching fire.
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
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear brakes system › Incorrect use/operation other cases naming the landing gear
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,509 hours in all; 32.6 in this make and model; 72.2 in the last 90 days; 7.5 in the last 30 days; 5,970 as pilot in command; 5,965.4 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 375 hours in all; 1 in this make and model
- Last flight review: October 29, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,149.9 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 30, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 2,535 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming I0360 MIA (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: BVY Beverly MA at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 11,322 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observation at 11:26 am from KPSM
Weather report (METAR): KPSM 031626Z 02005KT 10SM OVC022 00/M04 A3018 RMK AO2A SLP224
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
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Sent f om my PhoneThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on December 13, 2022. 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 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Inspection of Brake Assembly | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | FAA Inspector's Statement Brake Inspection | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photos (FAA) | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 6 | Video File | MOV file | Download |
| 7 | Garmin G1000 Data Download Factual Report | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Garmin G1000 Data Download Factual Report - Attachment 1 | data file | Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N489RS on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Diamond Aircraft DA 40 Diamond Star 1,018 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Diamond Aircraft 1,876 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming I0360 MIA 8,559 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Portsmouth International AT Pease · nearest airport
- Beverly Regional · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in New Hampshire 393 since 1982 · 56 in the last ten years
- New Hampshire 1,564 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA21LA099.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.