Probable cause
The student pilot’s improper landing flare.
NTSB analysis
The student pilot reported that his final approach to the runway was high and that he "slipped" the airplane to lose altitude. As the airplane crossed over the runway, he pitched the airplane forward to prepare for landing. The student pilot stated that he "felt the [air]plane losing forward momentum and added throttle to compensate." The airplane landed hard, bounced back into the air, and began to drift to the left. As the student pilot attempted to abort the landing by applying full throttle and reducing flaps, the airplane landed hard and exited the runway to the left. Subsequently, the airplane impacted a ditch, which resulted in structural damage to the rudder, left aileron, fuselage, and engine firewall. The student pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the engine or airframe prior to the accident.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR09CA322 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jul 1, 2009
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Spanish Fork, Utah
- Nearest airport
- Spanish Fork-Springville (U77)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Diamond Aircraft Ind Inc DA 20-C1
- N-number
- N765DC
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
Other records under this N-number
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.