Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 20-A1 accident near Concord, North Carolina, September 7, 1997
On September 7, 1997 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 20-A1, registered N560SS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Concord, North Carolina. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the pilot to latch the canopy closed prior to takeoff. This resulted in the canopying opening while on approach to land and the pilot was unable to maintain altitude due to the excessive drag.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 7, 1997 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Concord, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 20-A1
- Registration
- N560SS · no longer on the register · serial 10131
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot forgot to latch the canopy closed prior to takeoff. After takeoff he entered the pattern to return for a landing. While on final approach the canopy opened and stayed on the aircraft in the full open position. The aircraft would not maintain altitude with full engine power and settled into trees and crashed. After the accident the canopy unlocked light was still illuminated and the canopy latches were found in the open position.
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: 199 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 40 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 405 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 24, 1997; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,610 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912F (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Lancaster Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: JQF at 6:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:45 pm from CLT, 18 miles away
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.