Diamond Aircraft DA 40
Aircraft Manufacturer: Diamond Aircraft
Model: DA 40
About the Diamond Aircraft DA 40
The DA-40 is the most-registered model in Diamond Aircraft's lineup. With more than 600 aircraft on the U.S. civil registry, the DA-40 accounts for about 44% of the manufacturer's active registered fleet.
More than 100 DA-40 airframes have been removed from the U.S. registry. About 80% of all DA-40 registry records ever held remain active.
Across the type's FAA-registration exposure, the DA-40 records about 3.5 accidents per 1,000 aircraft-years. Within its peer cohort of same-type, same-engine-class, same-seat-range aircraft, where a higher percentile means a higher accident rate, the DA-40 sits at about the middle, near the median of comparable types rather than above or below most of them. Of 42 recorded DA-40 accidents, 8 were fatal.
The DA-40 carries 9 active airworthiness directives out of 12 ever issued against the type. The most recent DA-40 airworthiness directive is dated April 30, 2026.
Aircraft Details
| Manufacturer | Diamond Aircraft |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer Serial Number | 2990002 |
| Model | DA 40 |
| Category | Land |
| Aircraft Type | Fixed wing single engine |
| Weight | Class 1 (Up to 12,499 lbs gross take off weight) |
| Engine Type | Reciprocating |
| Number of Engines | 1 engine |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats |
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Safety Analysis
Composition of NTSB accident records for this model in general-aviation operations (FAR Part 91 and 137), based on NTSB data as of May 1, 2026. It's a breakdown of recorded accidents rather than a safety rating, and types with significant non-GA operation (such as Part 135) may be under-represented.
Accidents are identity-confirmed against FAA registration records (two independent sources).
29 exact, 12 recovered, 1 provisional
MethodologyTotal recorded general-aviation accidents within the analyzed period.
8 fatal accidents.
19.1% of recorded accidents were fatal.
Active aircraft fleet size contributing to the exposure data.
11,986
Aircraft-years of FAA registration exposure (2008–present).
Within its peer cohort
Within this model's peer class (same aircraft type, engine class, and seat range), comparison of its share of recorded NTSB accidents to its share of FAA registration exposure (aircraft-years since 2008).
This is a share comparison, not flight-hours adjusted, so a model flown more per airframe than its peers will show an accident share above its exposure share even if its per-hour safety is average. Methodology →
Accidents by year
Recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents per calendar year, derived directly from the NTSB accident database. Each bar shows the accidents that occurred in that year. Methodology →
Investigations take 12–36 months to finalise, so the trailing years come in incomplete. Recent years are adjusted upward for that lag. Observed counts show as solid bars, the lag-adjusted estimate shows hatched.
Phase of flight
Which phase of flight each accident occurred in, as coded by the NTSB. Most accidents happen in the phases where most flying time is concentrated, so this isn't a measure of which phase is most dangerous.
Finding category
Top-level NTSB cause category, from the coded investigation findings. An accident often has more than one finding, so totals here can exceed the recorded accident count.
Injury severity
NTSB classification of the worst injury in each accident: None, Minor, Serious, or Fatal. Each accident counts in exactly one severity.
Operating-rule mix (all parts): 091 (42)· NUSN (1)
Recorded Accidents
All 43 recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents for this model, most recent first.
| Date | Location | Tail | Damage | Highest injury | Phase of flight | Finding categories |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville, FL | N808ET | Substantial | None | Landing | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Fuquay-Varina, NC | N840AB | Substantial | None | Landing | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Coolidge, AZ | N4106G | Substantial | None | Landing | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Blairsville, GA | N447JP | Substantial | Minor | Enroute | Environmental issues, Personnel issues | |
| Ticlio | N293DS | Destroyed | Fatal | Enroute | unknown | |
| Lake Park, GA | N840DS | Substantial | Fatal | Enroute | Personnel issues, Environmental issues, Aircraft | |
| Hodgenville, KY | N316MA | Substantial | Serious | Initial climb | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Allagash, ME | CGPDO | Substantial | Fatal | Enroute | Environmental issues, Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Pearlington, MS | N361DS | Substantial | Fatal | Maneuvering | Personnel issues, Environmental issues, Aircraft | |
| Colorado Springs, CO | N326AF | Minor | None | Landing | Aircraft | |
| Farmingdale, NY | N388MA | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Cape Girardeau, MO | N544DS | Substantial | Minor | Prior to flight | Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| West Chester, PA | N659PS | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Norwood, MA | N323JT | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft | |
| Montgomery, NY | N482MA | Substantial | None | Landing | Personnel issues | |
| Arcata, CA | N521DS | Destroyed | Fatal | Approach | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| San Carlos, CA | N419JS | Minor | None | Enroute | Aircraft, Organizational issues | |
| Lakeview, OR | N196DC | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues |
Page 2 of 2 (showing accidents 26–43 of 43).
Airworthiness Directives
Composition of FAA airworthiness directives (ADs) that apply to this model, as of October 26, 2026. ADs are mandatory FAA-issued corrective actions for safety-of-flight issues. Pilots, owners, and operators should always verify against the current FAA AD listing before any maintenance or flight action. Methodology →
9 active · 12 total airworthiness directives issued against this model · most recent:
Directives by year
Count of airworthiness directives issued against this model per calendar year (publication date in the Federal Register). Includes both active and superseded directives. An active AD still applies; a superseded one was replaced by a later AD.
Directives by system / component (JASC / ATA code)
Breakdown of the AD count for this model by the FAA's coded subject classification. The corpus mixes legacy 2-digit ATA chapter codes and modern 4-digit JASC codes; both forms are surfaced as separate bars (see the methodology page).
Recent directives
The most recent airworthiness directives applicable to this model, by effective date. A Superseded badge means a later AD has replaced this one; we still list the original so it isn't lost from the page.
| AD number | Effective date | Subject | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
2026-06-03 |
Airworthiness Directives; Diamond Aircraft Industries Inc. Airplanes | Active | |
2024-19-08 |
Airworthiness Directives; Diamond Aircraft Industries Inc. (Type Certificate Previously Held by Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH) Airplanes | Active | |
2022-13-06 |
Airworthiness Directives; Diamond Aircraft Industries Inc. Airplanes | Active | |
2014-13-08 |
Airworthiness Directives; Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH Airplanes | Active | |
2013-24-14 |
Airworthiness Directives; Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH Airplanes | Superseded |
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