Dixon GLASAIR II N817CD

Summary

On 6 September 2003 at about 20:00 local time, a Dixon GLASAIR II registered N817CD was involved in an accident near Columbia, Illinois, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 September 2003 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Columbia, Illinois, United States

Nearest airport

Columbia (H49)

Coordinates

38.4506, -90.2358

Aircraft

Dixon GLASAIR II

Registration

N817CD

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Columbia → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI03LA318

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during an aborted takeoff. Contributing factors were the open cabin door, the grass runway and the soft terrain adjacent to the runway.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The amateur-built airplane was substantially damaged during an aborted takeoff when, under maximum braking, it veered off the runway, encountered soft terrain, and flipped over. The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll the pilot side cabin door inadvertently opened. His attempt to secure the door was not successful and he initiated an aborted takeoff. According to the pilot's statement, the aircraft touched down in a "fast taxi roll" with very little runway remaining. He noted that when he applied maximum braking effort, the aircraft "veered off [the] runway" and encountered soft terrain. The nose gear and left main landing gear collapsed and the aircraft subsequently flipped over. The pilot stated that he verified the door was closed and latched as part of the before takeoff checklist procedure. Although the cabin door was damaged during the accident, the pilot reported there were no anomalies with the door latching mechanism consistent with a pre-impact failure.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.