Diamond DA20 accident near Fillmore, Utah, September 11, 2020
On September 11, 2020 at about 3:00 pm local time, a 2000 Diamond DA20, registered N802CT, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Fillmore, Utah (Fillmore Muni 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 improper landing flare and delayed remedial action to abort the landing, which resulted in a loss of aircraft control, runway excursion and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 11, 2020 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fillmore, Utah · Fillmore Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Diamond DA20 C1, built 2000
- Registration
- N802CT · no longer on the register · serial C0102
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot reported that, after completing a normal approach, the airplane touched down nose gear first and the airplane bounced. The airplane continued to bounce down the runway and the pilot elected to abort the landing. He applied full engine power and the airplane again became airborne and veered off the left side of the runway. The pilot attempted to maneuver the airplane to the right, however the airplane descended onto the uneven dirt surface on the right side of the runway. The right main landing gear separated from the airplane and the lower fuselage was substantially damaged. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Hard landing during landing defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (aborted after touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Student/instructed pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 56.2 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 9.1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,577.4 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 4, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 1,764 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-240-B (piston); 1,583 hours total
- Operator: Platinum Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: DTA Delta UT at 3:30 pm
- Destination: FOM Fillmore UT
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 04, 5,040 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from KU24, 24 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on August 3, 2021. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N802CT the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.