- Date
- August 12, 2012, 10:35 local (14:35 UTC)
- Place
- Myerstown, PA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N633EVEvektor-Aerotechnik Sportstar
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 5, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20120812017699A
- Case key
- 84660
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 student pilot's decision to continue the takeoff roll while trying to secure an open canopy and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control. Contributing to the accident was the student pilot's failure to complete the pretakeoff checklist.
Findings · 5
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 student pilot reported that he intended to conduct a solo flight. He used the airplane's checklist, started the engine, and taxied to the runway uneventfully. While holding short of the runway and completing pretakeoff checklist items, the student pilot was distracted by an airplane approaching to land. The student pilot missed the item on the checklist that called for locking the cockpit canopy. During the ensuing takeoff roll, the canopy began rattling and flapping open. The student pilot reached behind his head and attempted to secure the canopy. During that time, the airplane veered off of the left side of the runway and the left wing struck a propane tank. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The examination did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane nor did the student pilot report any.
Factual narrative
The student pilot reported that he intended to conduct a solo flight. He utilized the airplane's checklist, started the engine and taxied to the runway uneventfully. While holding short of the runway and completing pretakeoff checklist items, the student pilot was distracted by an airplane approaching to land. The student pilot missed an item on the checklist, which called for locking the cockpit canopy. During the ensuing takeoff roll, the canopy began rattling and flapping open. The student pilot reached behind his head and attempted to secure the canopy. During that time, the airplane veered left off the left side of the runway and the left wing struck a propane tank. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The examination did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane, nor did the student pilot report any.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N633EV
- Reported as
- Evektor-Aerotechnik Sportstar
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 20060705
- Airframe hours
- 518
- Engine
- Rotax 912ULS, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Eugene Honert
- Registered owner
- Eugene Honert
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · August 9, 2012 · 7 hours before
- Departed
- 9D4 · Myerstown, PA
- Destination
- 9D4 · Myerstown, PA
- Airport
- 9D4 · Deck Airport, runway 01, 3,786 × 50 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
- Student pilot
- Age
- 70
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Sport pilot
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 69 total · 69 in this make and model · 31 as pilot in command · 15 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.96 inHg
- Observed at
- MUI, 10 nm away
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 5, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.4 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.