Diamond DA 20-A1 N527SS

Summary

On 1 October 1998 at about 17:30 local time, a Diamond DA 20-A1 registered N527SS, operated by Flight Academy International, was involved in an accident near Tomball, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 October 1998 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Tomball, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

David Wayne Hooks Airport (DWH)

Coordinates

30.0897, -95.6097

Aircraft

Diamond DA 20-A1

Registration

N527SS

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Flight Academy International

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → College Station

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW99LA062

Nobody was injured.

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.