Accident Overview
On June 6, 2021, at about 1020 eastern daylight time, a Diamond Aircraft DA 40 NG, registration N853L, was destroyed when it crashed near Darlington, Indiana. The airplane was being operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 141 instructional flight. The pilot and flight instructor sustained fatal injuries.
Flight Path and Witness Account
According to automatic dependent surveillance – broadcast (ADS-B) data, the airplane departed and flew northwest at about 4,000 feet mean sea level (msl). The flight was not in radio contact with air traffic control at the time of the accident. A witness reported hearing the airplane, looking up, and seeing it in a “nose down, left spin” before it disappeared behind a tree line. The witness also noted that the propeller sounded as if it were at a high rpm before impact.
Wreckage and Impact Evidence
Ground scars and the orientation of the wreckage indicated an impact in a slight right-wing-low, nose-down attitude. The main wreckage was oriented on a heading of about 037°. The airplane was highly fragmented, with debris scattered over approximately 75 yards. All major components were accounted for at the site. A slight odor of fuel was present, along with fuel blight on vegetation along the debris path. Control continuity was established for all flight controls; separations were consistent with overload or impact damage.
Engine and Data Examination
A data card was removed from the flight display, and the engine’s electronic engine control unit (EECU), which was damaged, was secured for later examination. The EECU was sent to the engine manufacturer for data download. The examination found no preimpact abnormalities that would have affected engine operation. The engine was running normally and appeared to respond to power lever requests.
Flight Data Analysis
A review of the airplane’s Garmin G1000 data revealed several turns and changes in engine power and altitude, consistent with maneuvering. The data showed that the airplane was at about 4,000 ft msl when engine power was reduced. As airspeed decreased, the airplane’s pitch attitude increased. Subsequently, the pitch decreased to a nose-down attitude, and the airplane made a right, spiraling turn, consistent with a stall and spin entry.
Pilot Information
The flight instructor had recently completed the flight school’s training academy and earned her flight certificate on March 30, 2021. She had accumulated about 329 total hours of flight experience, including 44 hours as a flight instructor. The student pilot had about 16 total hours of flight experience.
Aircraft Limitations and Spin Recovery
The Diamond DA 40 was not approved for spins. The aircraft flight manual included a procedure for recovery from an unintentional spin, which was noted in the manual's excerpt.