NYC08LA059

As the amateur-built Aero Canard was departing on a local flight, the canopy opened as the airplane lifted off the runway. After the airplane had climbed to an altitude of about 100 feet above the ground, a fabric cover exited the cockpit, and went through the wooden propeller assembly located aft of the fuselage. The airplane continued to climb slowly, and subsequently impacted trees and the ground. A shredded fabric cover and 1-foot sections of each propeller blade tip were located near the runway. All other portions of the airplane were accounted for at the accident site. Examination of the main canopy latch mechanism and a secondary "safety" latch did not reveal evidence of any preimpact failures; however, the position of the latches at the time of the takeoff could not be determined. The airplane's most recent inspection was performed about the time the pilot purchased the airplane, which was approximately 6 months prior to the accident.

On December 12, 2007, about 1000 eastern standard time, an amateur-built Aero Canard, N199JW, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees during the initial climb after takeoff from the Statesville Regional Airport (SVH), Statesville, North Carolina. The certificated private pilot was killed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local personal flight that was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

The pilot owned the airplane, and was departing from runway 28, a 7,006-foot-long, 100-foot-wide, asphalt runway.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, witnesses reported that they observed the canopy open, as the airplane lifted off the ground. As the airplane climbed to about 100 feet above the runway, a fabric cover exited the cockpit, and went through the wooden propeller assembly located aft of the fuselage. The airplane continued to climb slowly, and subsequently impacted trees and the ground. Both wings separated during the impact sequence, and the cockpit was compromised.

During an examination of the wreckage, the FAA inspector noted that a shredded fabric cover, and 1-foot sections of each propeller blade tip were located near the runway 3,000-foot marker. All other portions of the airplane were accounted for at the accident site, which was located just beyond the airport property line. Examination of the main canopy latch mechanism and a secondary "safety" latch did not reveal evidence of any preimpact failures; however, the position of the latches at the time of the takeoff could not be determined.

According to FAA records, the airplane was manufactured in 1999, and issued an airworthiness certificated on March 14, 2000. According to a bill of sale, the airplane was purchased by the pilot during June 2007.

According to maintenance records, the airplane had been operated for about 63 hours at the time of its most recent inspection, which was performed on June 25, 2007.

The pilot's logbook was not recovered. He reported 505 hours of total flight experience on his most recent application for an FAA third-class medical certificate, which was issued on May 31, 2007.

An autopsy was performed on the pilot by Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on December 13, 2007. The autopsy report revealed the probable cause of death as multiple trauma sustained in an accident.

Toxicological testing was conducted by the FAA Toxicology Accident Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

A weather observation taken at SVH, at 0942 reported: winds for 220 degree at 8 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear skies, temperature 17 degrees Celsius (C), dew point 13 degrees C, altimeter 30.17 inches of mercury.