- Date
- July 25, 2003, 20:00 local (Jul 26, 2003, 00:00 UTC)
- Place
- Macomb, MI
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N617JFFerence Varieze
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 30, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20030725018199A
- Case key
- 57586
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to secure the window canopy before takeoff and his failure to maintain directional control which resulted in a loss of control. The pilot's diverted attention is a contributing factor.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
An experimental amateur-built airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with a Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) antenna and with terrain during a takeoff. The pilot reported minor injuries. The pilot stated, "Canopy was not secured properly prior to take off, and opened in flight just after rotation. Pilot lost control of the aircraft attempting to close the canopy in flight."
Factual narrative
On July 25, 2003, about 2000 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Ference Varieze, N617JF, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with a Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) antenna and with terrain during a takeoff from runway 22 (4,193 feet by 60 feet, asphalt) at Berz-Macomb Airport (UIZ), near Macomb, Michigan. The personal flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The pilot reported minor injuries. The local flight was originating from UIZ at the time of the accident.
The pilot stated:
Canopy was not secured properly prior to take off, and opened in
flight just after rotation. Pilot lost control of the aircraft attempting
to close the canopy in flight.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N617JF
- Reported as
- Ference Varieze
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 1312
- Engine
- Continental 80A, 80 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Robert W. Hookano
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 1, 2002
- Departed
- UIZ · Macomb, MI
- Destination
- UIZ
- Airport
- UIZ · Berz-Macomb, runway 22, 4,193 × 60 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 43
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Unknown
- Last flight review
- March 15, 2003
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 255 total · 10 in this make and model · 255 as pilot in command · 13 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.12 inHg
- Observed at
- MTC, 9 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.