Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA 40 NG accident near Bay Minette, Alabama, January 27, 2026
On January 27, 2026 at about 8:39 pm local time, a 2022 Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA 40 NG, registered N708BL, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Bay Minette, Alabama (Bay Minette Muni airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 27, 2026 · about 8:39 pm local time
- Place
- Bay Minette, Alabama · Bay Minette Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA 40 NG, built 2022
- Registration
- N708BL · registry record · serial 40.NC169
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On January 27, 2026 at 1439 central standard time, a Diamond Aircraft Ind. Inc. DA-40 NG, N708BL, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Bay Minette, Alabama. The flight instructor and student pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The purpose of the flight was a stage check in preparation for the student pilot’s private pilot checkride. Neither pilot reported any problems during preflight, taxi, runup, takeoff, climb or cruise to the designated practice area, about 12 nautical miles (nm) northwest of Pensacola International Airport (PNS), Pensacola, Florida. After performing an intentional slow flight maneuver and subsequently applying full power for recovery to normal flight, they noticed oscillations of the engine rpm and engine power load percentage. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and requested the student locate the checklist for oscillating engine rpm. The checklist was performed but it did not resolve the oscillations. The flight instructor then decided to divert to Bay Minette Airport (1R8), Bay Minette, Alabama. She made an announcement on the airport’s common traffic advisory frequency then declared an emergency with Pensacola terminal radar approach control. The pilots then performed the emergency procedure for a dual engine control unit failure, however that did not resolve the oscillations. Shortly thereafter, the flight instructor observed annunciations for low coolant level and low oil pressure, followed by a loss of engine power. She attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful. After securing the engine the flight instructor looked for an area to make a forced landing. She reported that there were no good options available and made a forced landing into dense brush 1 nm east of 1R8. A post-accident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the airplane’s wings and empennage. After removal of the engine cowling, an outward puncture in the engine case was found along with thermal damage to several engine accessories. A dark-colored liquid, consistent with the appearance of oil, was found on the underside of the fuselage and the empennage. Approximately 20 gallons of liquid, consistent with Jet-A fuel, were recovered from the airplane. The wreckage was recovered and retained for further examination.
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 enroute defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,037.6 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 23, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 2,888 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Skywarrior Flight Training LLC
The flight
- Departed from: PNS Pensacola FL at 4:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.58 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 am from MOB, 25 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KMOB 271656Z VRB04KT 10SM CLR 03/M10 A3058 RMK AO2 SLP356 T00281100
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.