20131216024439A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Maarten H Versteeg ZENITH 601XL(B) · Leakey, TX · December 16, 2013

Date: December 16, 2013 · 16:18 local
Place: Leakey, TX
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N581SL
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN14LA087
Reported as: Maarten H Versteeg Zenith 601XL(B)
Reported engine: JABIRU 3300A
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 370 total20 in this make and model20 in the last 90 days

N581SLRegistration cancelled Dec 24, 2014 · Maarten H Versteeg ZENITH 601XL(B)S/N 6-6484-001 · Built 2013 Airframe modelMaarten H Versteeg ZENITH 601XL(B)Engine modelJabiru 3300A4 cycle

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

During take-off the canopy opened, distracting the pilot. The distraction caused the pilot to mismanage the aircraft controls. The aircraft impacted the ground at a steep angle of dive. The impact caused the landing gear to sheer off the aircraft. The aircraft slid an additional 50YDS and came to rest on the edge of the runway.

As the FAA filed it

DURING TAKE-OFF THE CANOPY OPENED, DISTRACTING THE PILOT. THE DISTRACTION CAUSED THE PILOT TO MISMANAGE THE AIRCRAFT CONTROLS. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND AT A STEEP ANGLE OF DIVE. THE IMPACT CAUSED THE LANDING GEAR TO SHEER OFF THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT SLID AN ADDITIONAL 50YDS AND CAME TO REST ON THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CEN14LA087Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportLeakey, TXThe pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane after the canopy opened on takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to properly secure the canopy latch before takeoff.Dec 16, 2013 · Substantial damage