What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On June 11, 2013, at approximately 0640 MDT, an experimental amateur built aircraft, vans aircraft RV-12, serial number 120226, N666BE, was operating at the Chadron, NE municipal airport. N666BE taxied onto runway 02 and began its takeoff roll. After the aircraft accelerated to approximately 65 mph and rotated. During ascent to approximately 50 feet AGL, the canopy became unlatched and ajar. The pilot leveled the aircraft and stated that the aircraft accelerated as a result. The canopy then rose up to a high angle. The aircraft responded with an uncommanded descent at a rapid rate. The pilot could not control the descent and impacted the runway, left side of centerline. The aircraft went airborne for approximately 228 feet and impacted the runway a second time. The aircraft continued to skid along the runway, veering off left, striking a runway marker light with the left wing leading edge. The contact with the light spun the aircraft approximately 270 degrees counterclockwise. The aircraft came to rest on the north side of runway 02 approximately 565 feet north of the initial impact location. No fires occurred. The pilot sustained a back injury and the aircraft was substantially damaged.
As the FAA filed it
ON JUNE 11, 2013, AT APPROXIMATELY 0640 MDT, AN EXPERIMENTAL AMATEUR BUILT AIRCRAFT, VANS AIRCRAFT RV-12, SERIAL NUMBER 120226, N666BE, WAS OPERATING AT THE CHADRON, NE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. N666BE TAXIED ONTO RUNWAY 02 AND BEGAN ITS TAKEOFF ROLL. AFTER THE AIRCRAFT ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH AND ROTATED. DURING ASCENT TO APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET AGL, THE CANOPY BECAME UNLATCHED AND AJAR. THE PILOT LEVELED THE AIRCRAFT AND STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT ACCELERATED AS A RESULT. THE CANOPY THEN ROSE UP TO A HIGH ANGLE. THE AIRCRAFT RESPONDED WITH AN UNCOMMANDED DESCENT AT A RAPID RATE. THE PILOT COULD NOT CONTROL THE DESCENT AND IMPACTED THE RUNWAY, LEFT SIDE OF CENTERLINE. THE AIRCRAFT WENT AIRBORNE FOR APPROXIMATELY 228 FEET AND IMPACTED THE RUNWAY A SECOND TIME. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO SKID ALONG THE RUNWAY, VEERING OFF LEFT, STRIKING A RUNWAY MARKER LIGHT WITH THE LEFT WING LEADING EDGE. THE CONTACT WITH THE LIGHT SPUN THE AIRCRAFT APPROXIMATELY 270 DEGREES COUNTERCLOCKWISE. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON THE NORTH SIDE OF RUNWAY 02 APPROXIMATELY 565 FEET NORTH OF THE INITIAL IMPACT LOCATION. NO FIRES OCCURRED. THE PILOT SUSTAINED A BACK INJURY AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.