# Accident 20220324004189A: Czech Sport Aircraft A S SPORTCRUISER, Santa Teresa, NM, March 24, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 24, 2022, 18:43 local time
- Place: Santa Teresa, NM
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 31.9841° N, 106.8097° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.9841&lon=-106.8097&mi=10
- Aircraft: N823MM, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N823MM) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Czech Sport Aircraft A S SPORTCRUISER (registry code 0600066, https://openairdocs.org/model/czech-sport-aircraft-a-s-sportcruiser) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 912ULS series (registry code 55572, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CZECH SPORT AIRCRAFT A S SPORTCRUISER
- Reported engine: ROTAX 912ULS SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Sport pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR22LA137](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA137) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220324004189A

## Narrative

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

ON MARCH 24, 2022, AT 1845 MOUNTAIN DAYLIGHT TIME, N823MM-A CZECH SPORT AIRCRAFT A SPORTCRUISER ON A VFR FLIGHT PLAN, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, CONTROLLED FLIGHT INTO TERRAIN, CRUISE FLIGHT, CONDUCT STALL SERIES TO CALIBRATE NEW INSTRUMENT, DID NOT FILE A VFR FLIGHT PLAN, SUBSTANTIAL, MINOR CUTS AND BRUISES, SPORT PILOT, KDNA.

DURING THE STALL SERIES, THE CANOPY BECAME UNLATCHED. THE PILOT DID NOT FOLLOW THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURE FOR AN UNLATCHED CANOPY. INSTEAD OF MAINTAINING A PRESCRIBED AIRSPEED FROM THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURE CHECKLIST WHICH WOULD HAVE ALLOWED NORMAL AIRCRAFT CONTROL, THE PILOT INTENTIONALLY INDUCED A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE RESULTING IN THE AIRCRAFT ACCELERATING TO REDLINE AND INCURRING A STEEP RATE OF DESCENT. PILOT PULLED BACK ON THE CONTROLS IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO CONTACT THE GROUND.

THE PILOT BECAME TASK SATURATED WHILE DEALING WITH THE CANOPY. PILOT COMPETENCY IS AN ISSUE WITH A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF EMERGENCY PROCEDURES.

## 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 WPR22LA137](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA137), Mar 25, 2022: Czech Sport Aircraft A S Sportcruiser (N823MM), Lanark, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of control of the airplane after the inadvertent unlocking and opening of the canopy for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence.

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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