# Accident 19961123036339A: Post A, Williamsport, PA, November 23, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 23, 1996, 10:10 local time
- Place: Williamsport, PA
- Airport: Williamsport-Lycoming County
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.2295° N, 77.0295° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2295&lon=-77.0295&mi=10
- Aircraft: N818Z, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N818Z-2013-05-13) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eaa-Bi-Plane A (registry code 33601KJ, https://openairdocs.org/model/eaa-bi-plane-a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-290 series (registry code 41506, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: POST A
- Reported engine: LYC O290*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 290 total, 50 in this make and model, 18 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC97LA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA020) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961123036339A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4)THE PILOT/OWNER OF THE AIRCRAFT COMPLETED THE PREFLIGHT AND STARTED THE ENGINE BY HAND PROPPING.  WHEN HE CLIMBED INTO THE COCKPIT, HE CLOSED THE CANOPY TO REDUCE THE WIND, BUT DID NOT LOCK THE CANOPY.  AFTER TAXI AND RUN-UP, HE STILL FAILED TO LOCK THE CANOPY, AND BEGAN THE TAKEOFF ROLL.  AT ROTATION SPEED, THE CONOPY SLID BACK, CAUGHT HIS HEADPHONES, AND HELD HIS HEAD BACK.  THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, WENT OFF THE RUNWAY, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER.  THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY USE OF A CHECKLIST.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB NYC97LA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA020), Nov 23, 1996: Zukowski EAA Biplane (N818Z), Williamsport, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate preflight preparation, which resulted in opening of the unsecured canopy during the takeoff roll, and subsequent loss of directional control and a nose over. A factor was: the…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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