| Crash location | 35.577500°N, 79.105556°W |
| Nearest city | Sanford, NC
35.479876°N, 79.180299°W 7.9 miles away |
| Tail number | N635DC |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 19 Sep 2015 |
| Aircraft type | Diamond Aircraft Ind Inc Da 20 C1 |
| Additional details: | None |
The student pilot reported that during a solo soft field takeoff the tail of the airplane impacted the ground. He lowered the nose, and as the airspeed increased initiated rotation After liftoff, the airplane drifted to the left of the runway, descended, and impacted the bottom of a ditch. The airplane came to a stop in a ramp parking area.
The student pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage.
The student pilots failure to maintain a climb after takeoff, which resulted in an impact with terrain.