What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On December 17, 2004 at approximately 1340 CST, the pilot of an aker Douglas RA-40, N765MM, departed Slaton airport runway 36 heading in a northerly direction, towards lubbock, Texas. Witnesses who observed the take-off reported that the aircraft canopy opened shortly after rotation and as the aircraft climbed out, the pilot appeared to be attempting to close the canopy. The aircraft made an approximate 360 degree turn at the north end of the airport. The flight path of the plane seemed to return to a northerly direction. The aircraft then began to wobble from side to side. The aircraft disappeared behind the canyon rim at approximately 1350 CST. A short time later smoke was seen coming from the area in the yellow house canyon, northeast of the runway centerline where the aircraft was last seen.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON DECEMBER 17, 2004 AT APPROXIMATELY 1340 CST, THE PILOT OF AN AKER DOUGLAS RA-40, N765MM, DEPARTED SLATON AIRPORT RUNWAY 36 HEADING IN A NORTHERLY DIRECTION, TOWARDS LUBBOCK, TEXAS. WITNESSES WHO OBSERVED THE TAKE-OFF REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT CANOPY OPENED SHORTLY AFTER ROTATION AND AS THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED OUT, THE PILOT APPEARED TO BE ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE CANOPY. THE AIRCRAFT MADE AN APPROXIMATE 360 DEGREE TURN AT THE NORTH END OF THE AIRPORT. THE FLIGHT PATH OF THE PLANE SEEMED TO RETURN TO A NORTHERLY DIRECTION. THE AIRCRAFT THEN BEGAN TO WOBBLE FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE AIRCRAFT DISAPPEARED BEHIND THE CANYON RIM AT APPROXIMATELY 1350 CST. A SHORT TIME LATER SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE AREA IN THE YELLOW HOUSE CANYON, NORTHEAST OF THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE WHERE THE AIRCRAFT WAS LAST SEEN.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.