Diamond Aircraft DA-40 accident near Bardstown, Kentucky, August 7, 2022
On August 7, 2022 at about 6:25 pm local time, a 2004 Diamond Aircraft DA-40, registered N723AG, suffered minor damage in an accident during standing (engine(s) operating) near Bardstown, Kentucky (Samuels Fld airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to provide adequate instructions to remain seated until the engine was shut down, which resulted in the passenger’s decision to exit the cockpit while the engine was operating and subsequently being struck by the rotating propeller.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 7, 2022 · about 6:25 pm local time
- Place
- Bardstown, Kentucky · Samuels Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Diamond Aircraft DA-40, built 2004 · all DA-40s on the register
- Registration
- N723AG · registry record · serial 40.427
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot decided to land during the personal sightseeing flight so the two passengers could switch seats. The pilot stated they were going to quickly change seats due to rain in the area, and his desire to keep the rain out of the cockpit. He stated he also briefed the passengers that, after exiting the airplane, they should walk aft and meet at the tail before coming back around and to watch out for the propeller. After parking, the pilot opened the canopy while the engine was still operating, and he proceeded to start the engine shutdown procedures per the checklist. During this time the front seat passenger exited the cockpit onto the right wing and proceeded to step off the front of the wing towards the propeller. While the pilot was completing the engine shutdown checklist, the passenger walked into the rotating propeller, resulting in a fatal injury. According to the rear seat passenger, the sequence of events transpired very quickly, and the pilot did not provide any briefing information regarding exiting the airplane after they landed. The airplane flight manual’s engine shutdown/starting procedures stated that the canopy must be closed and latched (or in an intermittent position to allow for cooling) during engine operation and that no persons should enter or exit the airplane while the engine was running. Given the pilot’s desire to keep the cockpit from getting wet due to the rain, the front seat passenger may have had the impression that she needed to quickly exit. It is likely that had the pilot provided more assertive commands to remain seated until advised to exit the airplane until after the engine had been shut down, consistent with the guidance in the airplane’s flight manual, the accident would have been avoided.
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
- AC/prop/rotor contact w person during standing (engine(s) operating) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 120 hours in all; 15 in this make and model
- Last flight review: July 12, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: none
- Injury: fatal
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,431 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 7, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 2,646 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 2,431 hours total
- Operator: Bccm Aircraft Holdings LLC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03/2, 5,003 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,400 ft; scat at 500 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from BRY
Weather report (METAR): KBRY 071855Z AUTO 35005KT 4SM SCT005 SCT009 BKN014 27/25 A3015 RMK AO1
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 ERA22LA362.