NTSB Factual Report

On April 16, 2005, at 1610 eastern daylight time, a Diamond DA40, N127X, was substantially damaged while landing at the Leesburg Executive Airport (JYO), Leesburg, Virginia. The certificated student pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight, conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot's verbal and written statements, the accident took place during a supervised solo flight. The pilot was attempting to perform a landing on runway 35. During the "roundout," prior to the flare, the airplane began to drift to the left side of the runway. The pilot attempted a correction by moving the control stick to the right, but was unable to maintain his position over the centerline. He then increased engine power to "drive the plane further down the runway," and to allow him time to "clean up the landing." He then noticed that he was no longer over the runway, but was over the grass on the west side of the runway, approaching the trees that bordered the airport. He then thought that because he did not have complete control of the airplane, it was time to end the flight by landing on the grassy area.

The initial impact point was in an area of up sloping terrain, 266 feet west of the runway. Ground scars, with portions of the nose landing gear assembly and landing gear wheel pants were located between the initial impact point and the airplane. The airplane came to rest prior to reaching the tree line located on the west side of the airport, oriented on a heading of 310 degrees magnetic. The final resting place of the airplane was at 39 degrees 04 minutes 27 seconds north latitude, 077 degrees 33 minutes 26 seconds west longitude.

A post accident inspection of the airplane revealed that the composite structure had sustained multiple cracks, tears, and punctures. Further inspection also showed that the nose wheel landing gear, as well as the right main landing gear, had separated from the airplane. Additionally, the firewall was bent and portions of the exhaust system had separated from the #4 cylinder. Both propeller blades had been bent approximately 90 degrees rearward, and each blade exhibited chord wise scratching.

An on-site examination of the airplane's mechanical and flight control systems was conducted and control continuity was verified. No pre-accident malfunctions were discovered

A review of the student pilot's training records indicated that at the time of the accident he had accumulated approximately 38.7 total hours of flight experience, all of which were in the accident airplane make and model.

The recorded weather at JYO, at 1601, approximately 9 minutes prior to the accident, recorded the winds as 040 degrees at 6 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control. Factors contributing to the accident were the pilots lack of experience, and the uphill terrain.