Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 20-A1 accident near Hollywood, Florida, April 13, 1997
On April 13, 1997 at about 5:47 pm local time, a Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 20-A1, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N124MF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hollywood, Florida (North Perry airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing/go-around, which led to subsequent in-flight collision with a fixed object (approach light/light bar/sign) and terrain. The student's failure to obtain the proper touchdown point was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 13, 1997 · about 5:47 pm local time
- Place
- Hollywood, Florida · North Perry · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 20-A1, amateur-built
- Registration
- N124MF · no longer on the register · serial 10024
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that she landed on the first 1/3 of the runway. She applied brakes with negative results, then initiated a go-around. During the go-around, an in-flight collision with a runway light and terrain occurred. Examination of the crash site by the FAA revealed the pilot landed long, added power in an attempt to make a touch-and-go, but lost directional control; the airplane collided with a light bar/sign and terrain. Examination of the brake system revealed no evidence of a precrash, mechanical failure or malfunction.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 20 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 4 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,748 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 27, 1997; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,609 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Bombardier ROTAX 912-A3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HWO at 4:47 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18R, 3,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:47 pm from HWO
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.