Diamond Aircraft Industries DA-40 and amateur-built 202 mid-air collision near Georgetown, Texas, May 9, 2004
On May 9, 2004 at about 10:10 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Diamond Aircraft Industries DA-40 (N89SE) and amateur-built 202 (N202XS), were involved in a mid-air collision near Georgetown, Texas (Georgetown Municipal Airport). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of both pilot's to maintain an adequate visual lookout, which resulted in a midair collision between the two airplanes.
The failure of both pilot's to maintain an adequate visual lookout, which resulted in a midair collision between the two airplanes.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 9, 2004 · about 10:10 pm local time
- Place
- Georgetown, Texas · Georgetown Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Diamond Aircraft Industries DA-40
- Registration
- N89SE · registry record · serial 40322
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Amateur-built 202
- Registration
- N202XS · registry record · serial 032
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Diamond Aircraft Industries DA-40 final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on final approach to landing at an uncontrolled airport, the low-wing Diamond DA-40 collided with the low-wing Giles 202 at an altitude of approximately 50 feet agl. The 16,000-hour pilot of the DA-40 reported that he entered announced his intentions for landing on the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) and reported upon entering a base leg for the runway, one-mile final, and 1/2-mile final. The 977-hour pilot of the Giles 202 reported that he announced inbound to the airport, on downwind, and the base to short final legs on the CTAF. Witnesses located at the airport reported observing the Giles 202 on a very high short left base, with a "relatively high sink rate" over taking the DA-40 quickly." One witness recalled hearing a radio transmission regarding "someone on short final," but was unsure which aircraft made the radio call. A witness taxing at the airport stated he did not hear any radio transmissions on the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) 123.0 mhz. Examination of both aircraft's radios revealed the radios were both set to the CTAF at the time of inspection by an Federal Aviation Administration inspector.
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 NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built 202 final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on final approach to landing at an uncontrolled airport, the low-wing Diamond DA-40 collided with the low-wing Giles 202 at an altitude of approximately 50 feet agl. The 16,000-hour pilot of the DA-40 reported that he entered announced his intentions for landing on the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) and reported upon entering a base leg for the runway, one-mile final, and 1/2-mile final. The 977-hour pilot of the Giles 202 reported that he announced inbound to the airport, on downwind, and the base to short final legs on the CTAF. Witnesses located at the airport reported observing the Giles 202 on a very high short left base, with a "relatively high sink rate" over taking the DA-40 quickly." One witness recalled hearing a radio transmission regarding "someone on short final," but was unsure which aircraft made the radio call. A witness taxing at the airport stated he did not hear any radio transmissions on the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) 123.0 mhz. Examination of both aircraft's radios revealed the radios were both set to the CTAF at the time of inspection by an Federal Aviation Administration inspector.
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 for the Diamond Aircraft Industries DA-40 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 16,000 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 16,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 1, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 91.4 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 27, 2003; 355.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,535 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-M1-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GTU Georgetown TX at 9:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 13 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,300 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 11:15 pm from GTU
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the amateur-built 202 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 977 hours in all; 539 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 898 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 18, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 505 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, April 21, 2004; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1E6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GTU Georgetown TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.