# Accident 20000520005819A: Gifford Wayne C TR-FI, Wenatchee, WA, May 20, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 20, 2000, 15:30 local time
- Place: Wenatchee, WA
- Airport: Pangborn Memorial Airport
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.4893° N, 120.1906° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.4893&lon=-120.1906&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1757, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1757-2000-10-06) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Gifford Wayne C TR-FI (registry code 05606BF, https://openairdocs.org/model/gifford-wayne-c-tr-fi) (OpenAirDocs)
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA00LA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA00LA089) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000520005819A

## Narrative

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

(-23) SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF PILOT'S CANOPY WAS OBSERVED TO COME OPEN. PILOT CONTINUED THE TAKEOFF, AND ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE THE CANOPY. PILOT STATED THAT AFTER INITIALLY ACHIEVING APPROXIMATELY 500' AGL, HE WAS UNABLE TO ACHIEVE A NOSE-UP ATTITUDE WITH THE AIRCRAFT. PILOT BELIEVES AFTER THE FACT THAT AS HE REACHED FOR THE CANOPY HANDLE HIS SEAT SLID FORWARD AND SUBSEQUENTLY INHIBITED HIS ABILITY TO MOVE THE STICK TO AN AFT, OR NOSE-UP POSITION (CONTROL STICK THREADS THROUGH A PREFABRICATED SLOT IN THE SEAT AND THE SEAT IS NORMALLY IN A FIXED POSITION). AS THE AIRCRAFT SUBSEQUENTLY BECAME NOSE DOWN, THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY.

## 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 SEA00LA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA00LA089), May 20, 2000: Gifford TR-4 (N1757), Wenatchee, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper decision to attempt to close the canopy (entry door) after it inadvertently opened in flight, instead of making a precautionary landing with it open. Factors include the pilot's…

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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