- Date
- July 2, 2012, 19:55 local (23:55 UTC)
- Place
- Lancaster, PA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N182EVEvektor-Aerotechnik Sportstar Plus
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Miscellaneous/other
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 13, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA Harrisburg FSDO
- FAA report
- 20120702011759A
- Case key
- 84287
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 attempt to secure an open canopy during takeoff, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent hard landing.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot initiated a takeoff and, as the airplane became airborne, the canopy opened. The pilot attempted to close the canopy and lost control of the airplane. The airplane landed hard on the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot stated that he failed to secure the canopy before takeoff and there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations.
Factual narrative
The pilot initiated a takeoff and as the airplane became airborne, the canopy opened. The pilot attempted to close the canopy and lost control of the airplane. The airplane landed hard on the runway causing substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot stated he failed to secure the canopy before takeoff and there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N182EV
- Reported as
- Evektor-Aerotechnik Sportstar Plus
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 20071002
- Airframe hours
- 1,617
- Engine
- Rotax 912ULS, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Adventure Flight Training LP
- Registered owner
- Liberty Sport Aviation Lp
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · May 2, 2012 · 93 hours before
- Departed
- LNS · Lancaster, PA
- Destination
- LNS · Lancaster, PA
- Airport
- LNS · Lancaster Airport, runway 31, 4,101 × 100 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
- 61
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 17, 2012
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 97 total · 10 in this make and model · 53 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.94 inHg
- Observed at
- LNS
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 23, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.3 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.