ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 188745
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Monday 18 July 2016 |
| Time: | 11:05 |
| Type: |  Diamond DA40F Diamond Star |
| Owner/operator: | Utah State University |
| Registration: | N419FP |
| MSN: | 40.FC019 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2006 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 6201 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming O-360-A4M |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Cache County near Hyrum, between Mount Sterling -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Logan, UT (LGU) |
| Logan, UT (LGU) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The private pilot was practicing flight maneuvers required to obtain a commercial pilot certificate during daytime visual flight rules weather conditions. A witness saw the airplane flying in slow counterclockwise circles while descending with the engine power at idle. He reported strong gusting winds at the time. Radar data showed the airplane completing four counterclockwise orbits and then beginning a descending clockwise orbit. The last two data points indicate a rapid, vertical descent greater than 6,000 ft per minute. Wreckage and impact signatures revealed that the airplane impacted the ground in a nose-low, near-vertical attitude with little to no forward movement, consistent with an aerodynamic stall/spin. Examination of the airframe and engine found no abnormalities that would have precluded normal operation.
Weather conditions in the accident area included strong gusty winds, low-level wind shear, clear air turbulence near the terrain, and possible mountain wave activity at mountain top level. The weather information that the pilot obtained before departure indicated wind at 6 knots and no gusts. No records were located to indicate that the pilot had obtained an official weather briefing before departure, thus he may not have been aware of the gusting winds and the potential for low-level wind shear and turbulence which could have contributed to his failure to maintain aircraft control. The radar data, the witness's description, and the damage to the airplane are consistent with the pilot exceeding the airplane's critical angle of attack while maneuvering, resulting in the airplane entering an aerodynamic stall with a subsequent spin and descent to ground impact.
Probable Cause: The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack while maneuvering in turbulence and gusty wind conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB
FAA register: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N419FP
Location
Images:
Photo: NTSB
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 18-Jul-2016 22:38 | Geno | Added |
| 19-Jul-2016 13:52 | Geno | Updated [Registration, Cn, Source, Damage] |
| 04-Mar-2018 17:30 | Anon. | Updated [Narrative] |
| 15-Mar-2018 20:12 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Location, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 15-Mar-2018 20:38 | harro | Updated [Source, Narrative, Photo, ] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation