# Accident 20090420004829A: Amtr VARIEZE, Santa Teresa, NM, April 20, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 20, 2009, 15:51 local time
- Place: Santa Teresa, NM
- Airport: Dona Ana County At Santa Teres
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 31.8811° N, 106.7047° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8811&lon=-106.7047&mi=10
- Aircraft: N77JM, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N77JM) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Marlin John E VARIEZE (registry code 05609MU, https://openairdocs.org/model/marlin-john-e-varieze) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C85 series (registry code 17008, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR VARIEZE
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 500 total, 350 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN09CA258](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA258) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090420004829A

## Narrative

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

(-23)  ON 04/20/2009, AT APPROXIMATELY 1555 MDT, N77JM, AN EXPERIMENTAL HOMEBUILT VARIEZE, DEPARTED SANTA TERESA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (K5T6) ENROUTE TO PENSACOLA, FL.  AFTER ROTATION, APPROXIMATELY 20-30 FEET IN THE AIR, THE CANOPY POPPED OPEN.  AT THAT TIME, THE PILOT GRABBED THE LATCH WITH HIS LEFT HAND AND TRIED TO HOLD IT IN PLACE.  KNOWING THAT HE COULD NOT SECURE THE CANOPY WITH THE LEFT HAND, HE REMOVED HIS RIGHT HAND FROM THE CONTROLS AND ATTEMPTED TO SECURE THE CANOPY.  IMMEDIATELY WHEN HIS HAND LEFT THE CONTROLS, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND HIT THE RUNWAY.  THE AIRCRAFT SLID THE RUNWAY AND CAME TO REST OFF THE LEFT SIDE IN THE DIRT.  THE PILOT DID NOT RECEIVE ANY INJURIES; THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE GEAR, CANARD,  WING AND PROPELLER.  INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT ON THE BEFORE TAKEOFF CHECKLIST, THE PILOT BECAME DISTRACTED TALKING ON THE RADIO AND DID NOT FINISH THE CHECKLIST.  PILOT ADMITS THAT HE DID NOT SECURE THE CANOPY PRIOR TO TAKEOFF.

## 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 CEN09CA258](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA258), Apr 20, 2009: Marlin Varieze (N77JM), Santa Teresa, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane, his failure to latch the canopy prior to takeoff, and his failure to complete the pretakeoff checklist due to his diverted attention.

## Other reports on N77JM (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19821111066029I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821111066029I), Nov 11, 1982: Amtrru VARIEZE (N77JM), Chino, CA, Substantial damage. Became airborne on fast taxi practice. Aborted and bounced on touchdown. Lost control, ran off runway, overturned.

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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