Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA 42 accident near Long Beach, California, April 19, 2022
On April 19, 2022 at about 10:38 pm local time, a 2006 Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA 42, registered N822SA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Long Beach, California (Long Beach Airport (Daugherty). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the right main landing gear brace rib for reasons that could not be determined based on available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 19, 2022 · about 10:38 pm local time
- Place
- Long Beach, California · Long Beach Airport (Daugherty · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA 42, built 2006
- Registration
- N822SA · registry record · serial 42.AC006
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot receiving instruction performed a short-field landing to a runway. During the rollout, about 750 ft from the touchdown point, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing contacted the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the right aileron. A postaccident inspection revealed the right main landing gear brace rib had separated from the wing structure. Examination of the failed components revealed the separation did not occur due to faulty adhesion from the original installation. In addition, an 8- to 10-inch crack was discovered between the upper and lower wing skin bonds to the airplane’s center section spar. That crack would have resulted from some type of force or stress to the airplane, such as a hard landing. However, no hard landings in the airplane had been reported. The airplane had undergone a 100-hour/annual inspection about 3 weeks before the accident, with no reports of damage or faults related to the landing gear. The airplane had been flown for about 35 hours since the inspection by multiple pilots. It is likely that the separation of the right main landing gear support assembly and the crack were initiated by a hard landing that was not reported since the inspection. The condition of the right main landing gear brace rib likely began to deteriorate and the right main landing gear subsequently collapsed during the accident flight.
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
- Landing gear collapse during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main gear strut/axle/truck › Unknown/Not determined
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,127 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 1,030 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 3, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with 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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,648 hours in all; 446 in this make and model; 79 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 1,545 as pilot in command; 1,263 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 23, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,164.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 31, 2022; 35 hours since
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Austro E4-B (piston); 1,120 hours total
- Engine 2: Austro E4-B (piston); 1,120 hours total
- Operator: Pughs Air West LLC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26L, 3,918 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 3:38 pm from LGB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on November 18, 2022. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Exam Email from FAA | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Party Member Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Excerpts from the Maintenance Logbook | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | 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.