Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA 40 NG accident near Coolidge, Arizona, March 21, 2024
On March 21, 2024 at about 5:00 pm local time, a 2023 Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA 40 NG, registered N755LA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Coolidge, Arizona (Coolidge Municipal Airport). 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 student pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing in gusty wind conditions. Contributing, was the failure of the flight instructor to intervene in a timely manner.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 21, 2024 · about 5:00 pm local time · cases in 2024
- Place
- Coolidge, Arizona · Coolidge Municipal Airport · cases near this airport · 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 40 NG, built 2023
- Registration
- N755LA · registry record · serial 40.NC220
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that the student pilot initially flared high for the landing and was instructed to lower the nose and add power to correct for the slow airspeed. The student pilot corrected to a normal landing attitude when a wind gust caused the airplane to drift to the left of centerline. Subsequently, the airplane began to sink towards the runway with the right wing down, which struck the runway. The airplane then bounced, and the instructor took control of the airplane and was able to safely recover and land the airplane. Post flight examination of the airplane revealed that the right aileron sustained substantial damage. Both pilots stated that there were no preaccident 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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Student/instructed pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 13 hours in all; 12 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,230 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 10,780 as pilot in command; 5,764 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 17, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 97.7 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 20, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 2,535 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Austro Engine Ae E4-A (piston); 98 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IWA Mesa AZ at 4:26 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 05, 5,564 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 am from KCGZ, 17 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KCGZ 211656Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 19/04 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP184 T01890044 PNO $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Airplane’s right aileron (counterbalance-weight separated) as viewed from the bottom.The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on October 31, 2024. 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 | Accident Photographs | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N755LA on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Austro Engine Ae E4-A 291 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Coolidge Municipal · nearest airport
- Mesa Gateway Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Arizona 2,985 since 1982 · 468 in the last ten years
- Arizona 8,422 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR24LA116.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.