Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA20-C1 accident near Mesa, Arizona, October 2, 2024
On October 2, 2024 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Diamond Aircraft Ind INC DA20-C1, registered N4199M, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Mesa, Arizona (Falcon Field). 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 pilot receiving instruction’s failure to maintain airspeed during landing and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action, which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 2, 2024 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Mesa, Arizona · Falcon Field · 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 DA20-C1
- Registration
- N4199M · registry record · serial C0170
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The operator of the airplane reported that, with the pilot receiving instruction at the flight controls, the approach airspeed for landing was higher than normal. The airplane touched down hard onto the runway and bounced twice. Although the crew attempted to perform a go-around, the airplane bounced a third time and the nose gear collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the composite section of the lower fuselage. The operator reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded a 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 (flare/touchdown)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 850 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 198 in the last 90 days; 66 in the last 30 days; 750 as pilot in command; 500 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 27, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Other crew
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: instrument airplane
- Flight time: 530 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 83 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 230 as pilot in command; 255 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 6, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,393.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 7, 2024; 24.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,764 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-240B (piston); 1,788 hours total
- Operator: Cae Oxford Aviation Academy Phoenix INC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22L, 5,100 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 102°F (39°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.76 inHg
- Observation at 3:54 pm from KFFZ
Weather report (METAR): KFFZ 022254Z 18004KT 10SM CLR 39/03 A2976 RMK AO2 SLP049 T03890028
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – N4199M at the accident site
Photograph 2 – Photo showing substantial damage to the floor
Photograph 3 – Photo showing exterior view of substantial damage.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
4 documents, released by the NTSB on April 8, 2025. 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 | Flight Instructor's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photos WPR25LA009 | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | Record of Conversation Director of Maintenance | 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.