# NTSB WPR09LA218: Weinberg RV-6, N690V, Sparks, NV, April 26, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 26, 2009, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Sparks, NV - Coordinates: 39.871944, -119.700836 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8719&lon=-119.7008&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 11, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 73734 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09LA218 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73734/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73734 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA218 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to follow the pre-takeoff checklist that resulted in the canopy opening during takeoff, which created a distraction, and his failure to maintain aircraft control during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Weinberg Andrew RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05608HK), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Doors: passenger/crew doors](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Weinberg Andrew RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210/cases.md?model=05608HK), [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Weinberg Andrew RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=05608HK), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Weinberg Andrew RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05608HK), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Weinberg Andrew RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=05608HK), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Weinberg Andrew RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=05608HK), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Weinberg Andrew RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05608HK), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Weinberg Andrew RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05608HK), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane's canopy opened on the takeoff roll prior to liftoff. Noting that there was not enough remaining runway to land safely, he continued the climb to 1,000 feet where he attempted to close the canopy. He was able to partially lock the canopy, and returned to the pattern to make a precautionary landing. The pilot reported that while in the landing flare the canopy opened again, obscuring his forward view. A witness reported that the airplane bounced on touchdown, became airborne, and then touched down again on the runway. After touching down, the right wing dropped and the airplane veered to the right. The airplane then made a rapid 90-degree left turn and went up on its nose, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented had he used his pre-takeoff checklist and ensured that the canopy had been completely closed prior to takeoff. Both the pilot and a witness reported a quartering headwind with about a 15-knot crosswind. ## Factual narrative On April 26, 2009, about 1300 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Weinberg RV-6, N690V, was attempting a precautionary landing due to an unlatched canopy when it landed hard on runway 03 at the Air Sailing Gliderport (NV23), Sparks, Nevada. The pilot/owner operated the airplane under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage to its wings. The flight had departed Cameron Airpark (O61), Cameron Park, California, about 1000, and was returning there when the accident happened. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight, and no flight plan had been filed. In the pilot's written statement, he reported that just after liftoff, the canopy opened. The remaining runway was too short to abort, so he continued the climb to 1,000 feet and attempted to close the canopy. The pilot stated that he was able to partially lock the canopy and was going to make a precautionary landing and close the canopy. As the airplane was in the landing flare for runway 3, the canopy opened again. This time it obscured the pilot's forward view. The pilot indicated that a 15-knot, 30-degree crosswind existed, and upon touchdown the crosswind caused the airplane to drift to the left into a sagebrush where the airplane went up on its nose. In the RECOMMENATION (How could this accident/incident have been prevented) section of the Pilot/Operator's Report (NTSB Form 6120.1), the pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had used the pre-takeoff checklist. The canopy was not completely closed prior to takeoff. The pilot further reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the accident airplane prior to the accident, other than the open canopy. A witness to the accident reported that he observed the accident airplane in a normal left pattern approach for runway 3L at NV23. He reported the following weather conditions: clear skies below 10,000 feet; turbulent wind from 050 to 060 degrees at 12 knots gusting to about 15 to 18 knots. The witness stated that as the accident airplane touched down it bounced slightly, as evidenced by a small cloud of dust, followed by a small increase in altitude. The airplane touched down again on all three landing gear; the right wing dropped and the airplane veered to the right. The witness reported that the airplane then made a rapid 90-degree left turn and tipped up onto its nose. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N690V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N690V), registered now, S/N 20051, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Weinberg RV-6 - Registry model: [Weinberg Andrew RV-6](https://openairdocs.org/model/weinberg-andrew-rv-6) (registry code 05608HK) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Aerosport O-360-A1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/aerosport-o-360-a1a) (registry code 01301, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 20051 - Airframe hours: 944 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Robert M McKay Trustee - Registered owner: Robert M McKay Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, September 5, 2008, 18 hours before - Departed: NV23, Sparks, NV - Destination: O61, Cameron Park, CA - Airport: NV23, Air Sailing Gliderport, runway 03, 3,000 × 60 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 85; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 31, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 5,560 total, 11 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: RNO, 22 nm away ## 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 20090426007169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090426007169A), Apr 26, 2009: Amtr RV6, Sparks, NV, Substantial damage. (-23) The aircraft departed Air Sailing Gliderport enroute to cameron park, CA and returned to land after the canopy came lose. The pilot stated that on… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 1, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73734. 495 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 484 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40312749&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 10 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327152&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Master.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.