Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA 20 C1 and Cessna 150M accident near Van Nuys, California, April 24, 2015
On April 24, 2015 at about 7:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA 20 C1 (N309EF) and Cessna 150M (N6211K), were involved in the same accident near Van Nuys, California (Van Nuys airport). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Both pilots' failure to see and avoid each other, which resulted in an on-ground collision while taxiing. Contributing to the accident was the ground controller's failure to notify either pilot about the presence of the other airplane on the taxiway.
Both pilots’ failure to see and avoid each other, which resulted in an on ground collision while taxiing. Contributing to the accident was the ground controller’s failure to notify either pilot about the presence of the other airplane on the taxiway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 2015 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Van Nuys, California · Van Nuys · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA 20 C1 C1, built 2004
- Registration
- N309EF · no longer on the register · serial C0262
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 150M M, built 1975 · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N6211K · registry record · serial 15077588
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA 20 C1 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Cessna 150M and a Diamond DA20 collided on the ground during taxi operations. The student pilot of the Diamond received clearance from the ground controller to taxi to the run-up area for runway 16R via taxiway A1. The Diamond student reported that he stopped and looked in both directions before slowly proceeding left onto taxiway A (not A1 as instructed), at which point he observed the Cessna moving to his left around a jet on taxiway A and approaching his position. The Diamond student stopped to see what the Cessna pilot was going to do, and his airplane was then struck by the Cessna. The Cessna pilot reported that, while taxiing on taxiway A as he approached A1, he observed an airplane at his 10-o'clock position, which appeared to be entering his path. The Cessna pilot applied the brakes but was unable to avoid striking the Diamond. The Diamond sustained damage to both propeller blades, and the Cessna sustained substantial damage to the leading edge of the left wing. A review of airport surveillance video showed the Cessna taxiing on taxiway A and converging with the Diamond before the collision. The surveillance video and on-site documentation of the area did not reveal any obstructions that would have prevented the pilots from seeing and avoiding the other airplane before the collision. Review of radio transmissions revealed that both pilots received and acknowledged clearance instructions from ground control; however, neither pilot was given information about the other aircraft's position on the taxiway. Seventeen seconds before the collision occurred, the ground controller began issuing instructions to another aircraft pilot; this transmission continued as the collision occurred. It is likely that the ground controller's attention was diverted to issuing instructions to the other aircraft pilot, which led to his failure to notify the accident pilots about the presence of the other airplane on the taxiway.
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 Cessna 150M final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Cessna 150M and a Diamond DA20 collided on the ground during taxi operations. The student pilot of the Diamond received clearance from the ground controller to taxi to the run-up area for runway 16R via taxiway A1. The Diamond student reported that he stopped and looked in both directions before slowly proceeding left onto taxiway A (not A1 as instructed), at which point he observed the Cessna moving to his left around a jet on taxiway A and approaching his position. The Diamond student stopped to see what the Cessna pilot was going to do, and his airplane was then struck by the Cessna. The Cessna pilot reported that, while taxiing on taxiway A as he approached A1, he observed an airplane at his 10-o'clock position, which appeared to be entering his path. The Cessna pilot applied the brakes but was unable to avoid striking the Diamond. The Diamond sustained damage to both propeller blades, and the Cessna sustained substantial damage to the leading edge of the left wing. A review of airport surveillance video showed the Cessna taxiing on taxiway A and converging with the Diamond before the collision. The surveillance video and on-site documentation of the area did not reveal any obstructions that would have prevented the pilots from seeing and avoiding the other airplane before the collision. Review of radio transmissions revealed that both pilots received and acknowledged clearance instructions from ground control; however, neither pilot was given information about the other aircraft's position on the taxiway. Seventeen seconds before the collision occurred, the ground controller began issuing instructions to another aircraft pilot; this transmission continued as the collision occurred. It is likely that the ground controller's attention was diverted to issuing instructions to the other aircraft pilot, which led to his failure to notify the accident pilots about the presence of the other airplane on the taxiway.
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 Ind INC DA 20 C1 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Communication (personnel) › Lack of communication › ATC personnel
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 44.4 hours in all; 34.9 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-240 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Amval LLC
The flight
- Departed from: VNY Van Nuys CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.12 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 pm from VNY
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
The factual record for the Cessna 150M from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Communication (personnel) › Lack of communication › ATC personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 361 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 308 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 1, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: 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: 1,842 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 127 in the last 90 days; 55 in the last 30 days; 1,783 as pilot in command; 425 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 1, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,552 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 11, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 1,601 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-200 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Continental Aviation INC
The flight
- Departed from: VNY Van Nuys CA
- Destination: KCMA Camarillo CA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N309EF the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
2018-07-18GAA18CA474 · accident near Van Nuys, CA · substantial damage · no injuries
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.