N321PFDiamond Aircraft Ind DA 40 · 2004

On April 23, 2022, about 1848 mountain daylight time, a Diamond Aircraft DA 40, N321PF, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Cedar City Regional Airport (CDC), Cedar City, Utah. The pilot and three passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The operator reported that the pilot rented the airplane with the intent to fly a multileg cross-county flight from his home base of Spanish Fork Municipal Airport/Woodhouse Field (SPK), Spanish Fork, Utah. The planned route of flight comprised stops at CDC and four other airports before returning to SPK. The operator stated that the airplane departed SPK on the first leg with about 40 gallons of fuel.

Recorded airport surveillance video at CDC showed that the accident airplane landed at 1615 and taxied to the self-serve fuel pumps. The pilot and passengers disembarked, and the pilot refueled the airplane, adding about 14 gallons of fuel. The pilot and passengers subsequently boarded the airplane for the next destination, Bryce Canyon Airport (BCE), Bryce Canyon City, Utah, and taxied toward the runway.

A pilot-rated witness, who was driving westbound down Cedar Canyon, reported that he observed the accident airplane flying up the canyon and over the river at an altitude of about 300 ft above ground level (agl). The witness stated that. as the airplane was about to pass over his position, the airplane turned left and then right, and its maneuvers were “quick” and “like a rocking motion.” The witness added that the propeller appeared to be under power and not windmilling.

Another witness, who was traveling near the accident site, reported that he observed the accident airplane flying on an easterly heading over the highway at an altitude of about 200 to 300 ft (agl). The witness stated that, other than being low, the airplane did not appear to be in distress. The witness also stated that that his vehicle’s windows were up, so he could not hear the airplane’s engine. After the airplane passed over the witness’ position, he looked in the mirror and saw the airplane “bank really hard to the south, back across the highway” as if the airplane “were trying to turn around in the narrow canyon.” The witness added that, at that point, the airplane’s wings were “almost completely vertical” and that the airplane “didn’t look like it had enough speed to pull off that maneuver.”

The airplane impacted mountainous terrain along the southern edge of the canyon about 7 miles southeast of CDC. A postcrash fire ensued.

During his last Federal Aviation Administration medical examination, the pilot reported that he was 74 inches tall and weighed 215 pounds.

The weight of the airplane at the time of departure from CDC was estimated to be about 128 pounds over the maximum gross weight (2,646 pounds). Based on the airplane’s most recent weight and balance information, full fuel level (40 gallons), the reported or measured occupant weights, and no baggage. The airplane’s center of gravity (CG) was calculated using the passenger and seat locations in the most favorable position and was found to be outside of the manufacturer’s approved CG envelope.

According to the performance information in the DA-40 Airplane Flight Manual and the assumed altitude and air density conditions, the airplane’s climb performance would have been about 300 ft per minute.

The calculated density altitude at the time of departure was about 6,022 ft. The calculated density altitude at the accident location and the time of the accident was 7,203 ft.

The weight of the airplane at the time of departure from CDC was estimated to be about 128 pounds over the maximum gross weight (2,646 pounds). Based on the airplane’s most recent weight and balance information, full fuel level (40 gallons), the reported or measured occupant weights, and no baggage. The airplane’s center of gravity (CG) was calculated using the passenger and seat locations in the most favorable position and was found to be outside of the manufacturer’s approved CG envelope.

According to the performance information in the DA-40 Airplane Flight Manual and the assumed altitude and air density conditions, the airplane’s climb performance would have been about 300 ft per minute.

Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted mountainous terrain along the southern edge of a canyon about 7 miles southeast of CDC. The airplane came to rest inverted on a magnetic heading of about 289° and at an elevation of 6,583 ft mean sea level. The first identified point of contact (FIPC) was a tall tree with damaged limbs near the top of the tree. The debris path was oriented on a magnetic heading of about 294° and was about 150 ft in length from the FIPC to the main wreckage. All major structural components of the airplane were located in the debris path. The figure below shows the wreckage at the accident site.

Figure. Accident site diagram.

Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit to all primary flight controls. Numerous separations were noted within the flight control system with signatures consistent with overload separation or due to the recovery process. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

The Utah Department of Health, Office of the Medical Examiner, Taylorsville, Utah, performed an autopsy of the pilot. His cause of death was blunt force injuries.

Toxicology testing performed at the Federal Aviation Administration Forensic Sciences Laboratory found no ethanol or drugs of abuse in the pilot’s specimens.

The pilot reported that, he configured the airplane to land and completed the approach to runway 34. Upon touchdown, the airplane touched down hard and bounced. The pilot opted to abort the landing and applied full power, however the airplane veered left off the runway centerline. The airplane touched down in a soft field adjacent to the runway substantially damaging the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.