13 Jul 2008: Diamond DA20-C1 — Tidewater Flight Center LLC

13 Jul 2008: Diamond DA20-C1 — Tidewater Flight Center LLC

No fatalities • Norfolk, VA, United States

Probable cause

The flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the student pilot while taxiing for takeoff. A factor contributing to the accident was the student pilot's failure to maintain a visual lookout.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

The student pilot (SP) stated he added a little more power than required to start the taxi. His flight instructor (CFI) informed him to decrease the power. and looked down to tune the airplane radios. The SP initiated a right turn towards the runway and to avoid a parked airplane. The SP did not see a light pole that was located off the left side of the airplane, and the left wing collided with the light pole. The airplane rotated a little to the left. Full brakes were applied by the CFI and the airplane came to stop. When asked if the flight instructor said anything before the collision, the SP stated no. The student pilot stated, he just failed to see the pole while maneuvering to the right resulting in the left wing colliding with the pole.

Contributing factors

  • Pole
  • factor Student pilot
  • cause Instructor/check pilot

Conditions

Weather
VMC, wind 140/04kt, vis 10sm

Related events

Same aircraft

  • 11 Aug 2023 — DIAMOND DA20-C1 (—)
  • 12 Oct 2015 — DIAMOND DA20-C1 (LARI L. GEE)

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