# NTSB FTW99LA062: Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 20-A1, N527SS, Tomball, TX, October 1, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 1, 1998, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Tomball, TX - Coordinates: 30.089746, -95.609725 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0897&lon=-95.6097&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 20, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45557 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW99LA062 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45557/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA062 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to follow the checklist and secure the canopy, which resulted in the canopy separating from the airplane during takeoff initial climb. A factor was the pilot's failure to detect the canopy warning light prior to takeoff. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, takeoff - initial climb - checklist - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - caution/warning system/light(s) - not identified, pilot in command (contributing factor) - window,canopy - not secured (cause) - window,canopy - separation (cause) ## Analysis During takeoff, at about 400 feet, the canopy separated from the airplane. The pilot turned the airplane back towards the airport and landed without further incident. The pilot reported that he did not explain to the passenger that the right side of the canopy needed to be latched before takeoff. The pilot also reported that he did not observe the canopy warning light during taxi to the runway, nor did he complete the 'Canopy-Secure' portion of the pre-takeoff checklist. ## Factual narrative On October 1, 1998, at 1230 central daylight time, a Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 20-A1 single-engine airplane, N527SS, was substantially damaged when the canopy separated during takeoff from David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport near Tomball, Texas. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to MDFC Equipment Leasing Corporation of Long Beach, California, and operated by Flight Academy International of Spring, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight, which was originating at the time of the accident. According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot did not explain to the passenger that the right side of the canopy needed to be latched before takeoff. The pilot stated that he did not observe the canopy warning light during taxi to the runway, nor did he complete the "Canopy-Secure" portion of the pre-takeoff checklist. The pilot also stated that after takeoff from runway 17L, at about 400 feet, he heard a "rapid-sounding noise for several repetitions, followed by the canopy disengaging itself from the fuselage." Following the separation of the canopy, the pilot's headset was lost from the "burst of wind." As a result, tower communication was not possible. The pilot turned the aircraft back towards the airport and landed on runway 35L "without further damage to [the] aircraft." The canopy was recovered approximately 1/4 mile south of the localizer antennas for runway 17R. According to the FAA inspector, the main structural spar behind the cockpit, to which the canopy was attached, sustained damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N527SS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N527SS-2001-08-16), registration cancelled 2001-08-16, S/N 10090 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 20-A1 - Registry model: [Diamond Aircraft Ind DA20-A1](https://openairdocs.org/model/diamond-aircraft-ind-da20-a1) (registry code 2990000) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 10090 - Airframe hours: 680 - Engines: Rotax 912/F3 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Flight Academy International - Registered owner: Mdfc Equipment Leasing Corp. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 25, 1998, 32 hours before - Departed: DWH - Destination: CLL, COLLEGE STATION, TX - Airport: DWH, David Wayne Hooks Airport, runway 35L, 3,997 × 35 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 14 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 19981001042209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981001042209A), Oct 1, 1998: Diamon DA20A1, Houston, TX, Substantial damage. (.19) On October 1, 1998, at 1230 central daylight time, a diamond aircraft industries da 20-A1 airplane, N527SS, was substantially damaged during takeoff from… 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.