Diamond DA 40 accident near Denver, Colorado, July 13, 2019
On July 13, 2019 at about 8:50 pm local time, a 2004 Diamond DA 40, registered N388JP, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Denver, Colorado (Rocky Mountain Metropolitan 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 pilot receiving instruction's failure to maintain the runway heading and bank control during landing in crosswind conditions, which resulted in a go-around and subsequent collision with a runway light.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 2019 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Denver, Colorado · Rocky Mountain Metropolitan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Diamond DA 40 Undesignat, built 2004
- Registration
- N388JP · no longer on the register · serial 40.388
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot receiving instruction reported that, during landing in windy conditions, the airplane drifted left of the runway centerline. He added that he applied right rudder and aileron to correct, but when he realized the airplane "was going to drift to left of [the] runway," he initiated a go-around. The flight instructor reported that the airplane subsequently touched down "momentarily" and that he heard a "thump." The pilot then added power and made "several corrections" to maintain the runway heading and then established a climb. The instructor reported to the tower controller that the airplane may have struck a runway edge light. The pilot landed the airplane and taxied to the ramp without further incident. During postaccident examination, white paint transfer marks were observed on the runway leading to a runway light. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both the left and right ailerons. The pilot added that airport personnel informed him that a runway light was damaged and would require replacement. The chief pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The flight instructor reported that the wind was from 350° at 12 knots, gusting to 19 knots. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about 3 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 340° at 13 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 30.
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
- Other weather encounter during approach (VFR go-around)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during approach (VFR go-around)
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR go-around)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Heading/course › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Runway/taxi/approach light › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 137 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 53 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 13, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 23,885 hours in all; 54.2 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 9.1 in the last 30 days; 16,137 as pilot in command; 5,554 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 28, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,362 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 10, 2019
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-M1A (piston); 1,420 hours total
- Operator: Western Air Flight Academy
The flight
- Departed from: LMO Longmont CO at 8:15 pm
- Destination: BJC Denver CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30L, 7,002 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 22,000 ft; a few clouds at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Observation at 8:47 pm from KBJC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on September 9, 2019. 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 | Accident Photos | PDF, 3 pages | 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.