# Accident 20200829013079A: Stevens Mark ZENITH CH 601XL, Punta Gorda, FL, August 29, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 29, 2020, 12:20 local time
- Place: Punta Gorda, FL
- Airport: Punta Gorda
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 26.9189° N, 81.9908° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.9189&lon=-81.9908&mi=10
- Aircraft: N354DM, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N354DM) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Stevens Mark ZENITH CH 601XL (registry code 056383T, https://openairdocs.org/model/stevens-mark-zenith-ch-601xl) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Viking 130 (registry code 63998, https://openairdocs.org/engine/viking-130) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: STEVENS MARK ZENITH CH 601XL
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 262 total, 7 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA20CA303](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA303) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200829013079A

## Narrative

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

ON 08/29/2020, N354DM DEPARTED PUNTA GORDA (PGD), FL, THE PIC STATED THAT UPON INITIAL LIFTOFF THE CANOPY FLEW OPEN TO THE FULL UP POSITION (CANOPY OPENS FORWARD). THE AIRCRAFT IMMEDIATELY ENTERED A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN IN THE NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AND THE PROPELLER STRUCK THE RUNWAY DESTROYING IT. THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED AND TOUCHED DOWN AGAIN COLLAPSING THE NOSE GEAR. THE AIRCRAFT SKIDDED OFF THE LEFT EDGE OF THE RUNWAY, TIPPING FORWARD WHEN IT CAME TO ITS FINAL STOP IN THE GRASS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS CLASSIFIED AS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED BY THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD (NTSB).

## 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 ERA20CA303](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA303), Aug 29, 2020: Zenith CH601 (N354DM), Punta Gorda, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: An inadvertent opening of the airplane’s canopy on takeoff, which resulted in a loss of control and runway excursion.

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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