This May 2009 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Aircraft: Diamond DA-20. Injuries: 1 Minor. Location: Olathe, Kan. Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: During an attempt to perform a touch-and-go, the student pilot flared too high. The airplane landed hard, bounced, and the propeller struck the runway. The student pilot executed a go-around. During the climb-out, at approximately 250 feet above the ground, the engine lost power. The student made a landing straight ahead into a tree line. The impact with the tree tore the airplane’s right wing and horizontal stabilizer off and the airplane nosed over. The student pilot was trapped in the inverted airplane and had to be rescued by emergency response crews.
After the accident, a serviceable propeller was installed and the airplane’s engine was successfully tested for over 20 minutes, including several minutes at full power.
Probable cause: The student pilot’s improper landing flare and recovery from a bounced landing, as well as his improper decision to continue the takeoff after a propeller strike on the runway.
For more information: NTSB.Gov
