Diamond DA40 accident near Mesa, Arizona, November 9, 2020
On November 9, 2020 at about 2:24 pm local time, a 2008 Diamond DA40, registered N4117H, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (to runway) near Mesa, Arizona (Falcon Field). 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 pilot’s failure to maintain clearance with a vehicle while taxiing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 9, 2020 · about 2:24 pm local time
- Place
- Mesa, Arizona · Falcon Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Diamond DA40 F, built 2008
- Registration
- N4117H · registry record · serial 40.938
- 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 while taxiing to the runup area he stopped when he noticed a construction vehicle was in close proximity to the taxiway. After he assessed the situation and felt that he had enough room to taxi around the vehicle on the left, he continued to taxi. However, while maneuvering around the vehicle he misjudged the clearance, and the right wing was substantially damaged when it collided with the vehicle. The student reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions 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
- Ground collision during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Student/instructed pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Ground vehicle › Not specified
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 32 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 5 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,612 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, November 4, 2020; 5.3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,646 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-M1A+ (piston); 3,901 hours total
- Operator: Cae Phoenix - Aviation Academy
The flight
- Departed from: FFZ Mesa AZ
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 6:54 am from FFZ, 1 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 June 30, 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 of Damage to Leading Edge of Right Wing | 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.
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.