Probable cause
The pilot’s improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a subsequent hard landing and a nose landing gear collapse.
NTSB analysis
According to the pilot, after the landing touchdown, the airplane started to “porpoise” on the runway and on the third bounce the nose landing gear collapsed. Subsequently, the propeller and fuselage impacted the runway and the airplane skidded to a stop. The airplane’s firewall and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported, and a postaccident examination corroborated that, there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA21LA179 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Mar 26, 2021
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Tampa, Florida
- Nearest airport
- Tampa Executive Airport (VDF)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Diamond Aircraft Ind Inc DA20-C1
- N-number
- N392DC
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2004
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.