Dassault Aviation DA-20 accident near Swanton, OH
On April 8, 2003, a Dassault Aviation DA-20 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Swanton, OH. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- April 8, 2003
- Place
- Swanton, OH
- Aircraft
- Dassault Aviation DA-20 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 41.573°N, 83.864°W
- NTSB ID
- 20030421X00535
Official records · NYC03FA080
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- FAA - ATC Controller Statements: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 8, 2003, at 1349 eastern daylight time, a Dassault Fan Jet Falcon (DA-20), N183GA, operated by Grand Aire Express Inc. (GAE), as flight 183, was destroyed when it struck trees while on an instrument approach to Toledo Express Airport (TOL), Swanton, Ohio. The two certificated airline transport pilots, and pilot rated passenger were fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional flight, which last departed from Cherry Capital Airport (TVC), Traverse City, Michigan. The flight was conducted on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the Director of Operations (DO) for Grand Aire Express, the flight was dispatched from Toledo with a 14 CFR Part 135 qualified flight crew on board, and a first officer in training (FO), who occupied the jump seat with no required duties. According to records from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), prior to departure from Toledo, the direct user access terminal system (DUATS) was accessed using a Grand Aire logon. Selected notices to airmen (NOTAMS), terminal forecasts (TAFs), and aviation routine weather reports (METARS) were requested by the logon user. The airplane then flew from TOL to Grand Rapids (GRR), Michigan, where cargo was loaded. There was no servicing while the airplane was on the ground at Grand Rapids. However, flight service was contacted by the flight crew and an IFR flight plan was filed to Traverse City. The latest weather for Traverse City, and their alternate airport was also requested. When asked if any additiona
Probable cause
The flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight, including his failure to maintain an approach airspeed consistent with the airplane's configuration, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall due to slow airspeed, and subsequent uncontrolled descent into trees. Factors were the icing conditions, the flight instructors failure to turn on the wing and engine anti-ice, and his lack of exper
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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
