# NTSB ERA25LA070: William M Clapp CLAPP-SABERWING, N100SW, Valdosta, GA, December 7, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 7, 2024, 16:27 UTC - Place: Valdosta, GA - Coordinates: 30.768563, -83.271157 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7686&lon=-83.2712&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 199398 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA070 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199398/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199398 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA070 ## Probable cause A hard landing and subsequent gear collapse due to the pilot’s failure to securely close the airplane canopy and its subsequent opening on short final. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Doors: passenger/crew doors](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [William M Clapp CLAPP-SABERWING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210/cases.md?model=05633X7), [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [William M Clapp CLAPP-SABERWING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=05633X7), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330); cases with it: [William M Clapp CLAPP-SABERWING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=05633X7), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [William M Clapp CLAPP-SABERWING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05633X7), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [William M Clapp CLAPP-SABERWING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05633X7), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [William M Clapp CLAPP-SABERWING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05633X7), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings and reported that while maneuvering through the traffic pattern, the canopy became partially opened. The canopy was equipped with two side latches and one main latch at the rear of the canopy. The right-side latch held the canopy partially secured until the final approach segment when it also released, and the canopy opened completely. The airplane subsequently nosed down and contacted the ground nose first just short of the runway whereupon the nose landing gear separated from the airplane and the main landing gear collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot was seriously injured. The pilot reported forgetting to lock the main rear latch to the canopy after opening it during taxi. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N100SW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N100SW), registered now, S/N CLAPP05, built 2019 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WILLIAM M CLAPP CLAPP-SABERWING - Registry model: [William M Clapp CLAPP-SABERWING](https://openairdocs.org/model/william-m-clapp-clapp-saberwing) (registry code 05633X7) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Corvair 100HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/corvair-100hp) (registry code 18004, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: CLAPP05 - Year built: 2019 - Airframe hours: 70 - Engines: Corvair Corvair/spider 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2024, 15 hours before - Airport: VLD, Valdosta Regional, runway 36, 8,003 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 30, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 359 total, 12 in this make and model, 321 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.39 inHg - Observed at: VLD - METAR: KVLD 071653Z 06005KT 10SM CLR 12/M07 A3039 RMK AO2 SLP300 T01171067 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20241207021179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241207021179A), Dec 7, 2024: William M Clapp CLAPP-SABERWING, Valdosta, GA, Substantial damage. While in the pattern on base leg, the canopy of the aircraft came partially open. The right front latch held the canopy in a partially closed position until… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199398. 3.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18134023&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Schofield_6120_1_Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 19 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18133868&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Incident%20Statement-Jeffery%20Schofield-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18133615&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.