Diamond Aircraft Ind Inc DA 40 accident near Lake Park, GA
On December 11, 2012, a Diamond Aircraft Ind Inc DA 40 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Lake Park, GA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- December 11, 2012
- Place
- Lake Park, GA
- Aircraft
- Diamond Aircraft Ind Inc DA 40 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 30.714°N, 83.182°W
- NTSB ID
- 20121211X41020
Official records · ERA13FA083
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- FCFSS Chronological Summary of Flight Briefing and Partial Transcript: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn December 10, 2012, at approximately 1950 eastern standard time, a Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 40; N840DS, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees and terrain after a loss of control during climb, after departure from Valdosta Regional Airport (VLD), Valdosta, Georgia. The certificated private pilot was fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 business flight, destined for Jesup-Wayne County Airport (JES), Jesup, Georgia. According to the VLD Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) supervisor, at approximately 1935, the pilot radioed VLD ATCT and advised that he was ready to taxi for departure. The pilot was then issued current weather and taxi instructions to the active runway. The pilot then advised the controller that he would be departing to the east to JES. At 1939, the pilot advised ATCT that he was ready for departure and was issued current wind information and was cleared for takeoff. At 1942, the pilot was advised to squawk a beacon code of "1200" and that he could receive visual flight rules (VFR) advisory service with Moody Air Force Base Radar Approach Control (RAPCON) on frequency 126.6. The pilot then advised that he was changing to frequency 126.6 for advisory services. According to the RAPCON supervisor, after the pilot contacted the RAPCON for VFR flight following the pilot was advised to squawk a beacon code of "5576" but, at 1950, before the airplane was radar identified by the RAPCON, the pilot radioed "I'm in trouble."
Probable cause
The noninstrument-rated pilot’s improper decision to depart in dark, night marginal visual flight rules conditions, which resulted in his spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of airplane control.
More accidents in GA
- Embraer EMB-120RT, Apr 5, 1991
- Cessna 208, Sep 29, 1985
- Beech 400, Dec 11, 1991
- Embraer EMB-120RT, Aug 21, 1995
- Mitsubishi MU-2B-30, Apr 20, 1982
Browse: Georgia · Diamond Aircraft Ind aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
