# NTSB SEA00LA089: Gifford TR-4, N1757, Wenatchee, WA, May 20, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 20, 2000, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Wenatchee, WA - Coordinates: 47.489334, -120.190597 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.4893&lon=-120.1906&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 9, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 51321 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA00LA089 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51321/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA00LA089 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper decision to attempt to close the canopy (entry door) after it inadvertently opened in flight, instead of making a precautionary landing with it open. Factors include the pilot's failure to follow all items on the checklist, his failure to fully secure the canopy/door prior to takeoff, the movement of the pilot's seat pan while in flight, the restriction of the control stick movement by the displaced seat pan, and the pilot/builders failure to adequately secure the seat pan to the airframe. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing after takeoff - checklist - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - door,exterior crew - not secured (contributing factor) - door,exterior crew - open (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fuselage,seat - slipped (contributing factor) - acft/equip,inadequate aircraft component, owner/builder (contributing factor) - flt control syst,yoke/control stick - movement restricted (contributing factor) ## Analysis While taxing his aircraft back to the hangar after having it on display at his home airport, the pilot changed his mind and decided to take a short local flight. Prior to takeoff, he failed to ensure that he had performed all action items contained in the aircraft checklist. As a result, he inadvertently failed to engage the right clam-shell door aft locking mechanism. Just after takeoff, the door came open, and instead of continuing around the pattern in order to make a precautionary landing, the pilot attempted to close the door while in flight. While reaching across to the far side of the cabin and struggling to close the door, the pilot's seat pan shifted, resulting in restricted movement of the control stick. The pilot then executed a forced landing in an open field, but during the roll out, the aircraft entered an orchard of fruit trees where it sustained substantial damage. ## Factual narrative On May 20, 2000, approximately 1600 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Gifford TR-4, N1757, collided with trees during an emergency landing which occurred just after takeoff from Pangborn Field, Wenatchee, Washington. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant received serious injuries, and the aircraft, which was owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The local 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation. According to the pilot, the aircraft had been on display at a fly-in at his home airport throughout the day, and he started it up in order to taxi it back to the hangar. As he was taxiing, he decided to take the aircraft around the pattern once before putting it away. Because of his change in plans, he did not perform a complete checklist review, and inadvertently did not fully engage the right canopy aft locking pin. Just after liftoff, the right side clam-shell entry door came partially open. As the airspeed built, the front latch also became disengaged, resulting in the door swinging fully open. Instead of continuing around the pattern and making a precautionary landing, the pilot attempted to reach across the cockpit to pull the door shut. As he struggled to close the door, the unsecured seat pan on his side of the aircraft shifted forward and partially restricted the aft movement of the pilot-side control stick. The pilot reduced power and allowed the aircraft to descend into an "open" field directly ahead of his flight path. Although the touchdown was successful, during the rollout, the aircraft entered an orchard of young fruit trees where it was substantially damaged. In a phone call with a representative of Tri-R Technologies, designers of the kit from which this aircraft was built, it was learned that the aircraft is fully controllable in flight with one door open. The representative stated the aircraft has been flown with one door open at normal approach speeds and flap settings, and showed no unusual flight characteristics. The representative also started that if the seat pan is not secured with some type of screw or pin to the bulkhead that it rests upon, there are certain situations where it may become dislodged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1757](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1757-2000-10-06), registration cancelled 2000-10-06, S/N 4027 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Gifford TR-4 - Registry model: [Gifford Wayne C TR-FI](https://openairdocs.org/model/gifford-wayne-c-tr-fi) (registry code 05606BF) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 4027 - Airframe hours: 74 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A36D 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Wayne C. Gifford - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 18, 2000, 1 hours before - Departed: EAT - Airport: EAT, Pangborn Memorial ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,011 total, 74 in this make and model, 2,011 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 8 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 36 °F ## 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 20000520005819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000520005819A), May 20, 2000: Wenatchee, WA, No damage. (-23) Shortly after liftoff pilot's canopy was observed to come open. Pilot continued the takeoff, and attempted to close the canopy. Pilot stated that after… 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.