# Accident 20260513008259A: Bonsteel Wayne RV-4, Conroe, TX, May 13, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 13, 2026, 12:30 local time
- Place: Conroe, TX
- Airport: Conroe-North Houston Regional
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.3119° N, 95.4561° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3119&lon=-95.4561&mi=10
- Aircraft: N292M, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N292M) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bonsteel Wayne RV-4 (registry code 056083I, https://openairdocs.org/model/bonsteel-wayne-rv-4) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental OX-340 series (registry code 17489, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-ox-340-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BONSTEEL WAYNE RV-4
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 18,812 total, 189 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN26LA205](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA205) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260513008259A

## Narrative

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

^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, A VANS RV-4, DEPARTED CONROE/NORTH HOUSTON REGIONAL AIRPORT ON RWY 19 WITH ONE PASSENGER. SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTURE AT APPROXIMETLY 100 AGL THE AIRCRAFT PILOT CANOPY OPENED. THE PILOT ELECTED TO ABORT THE TAKE OFF AND LAND BACK STRAIGHT AND RETURNED TO RWY 19. AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ON THE  RWY NUMBERS AT THE DEPARTURE END OF 19 AND CONTINUED TO TRAVEL OFF THE RUNWAY SURFACE TO THE GRASS AND CAME TO A STOP 600FT BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY. AIRCRAFT CANOPY REMAINED  ATTACHED TO THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 CEN26LA205](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA205), May 13, 2026: Vans RV4 (N292M), Conroe, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to properly latch the canopy before flight, which led to the canopy opening shortly after takeoff.

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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