Akers Douglas RA40 DEFIANT N765MM

Summary

On 17 December 2004 at about 19:40 local time, a Akers Douglas RA40 DEFIANT registered N765MM was involved in an accident near Slaton, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 December 2004 at 19:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Slaton, Texas, United States

Coordinates

33.5122, -101.6492

Aircraft

Akers Douglas RA40 DEFIANT

Registration

N765MM

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Slaton → Slaton

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DFW05LA043

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing factors were the opening of the canopy in-flight and the pilot's diverted attention.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The one-piece canopy opened to a near-vertical position during the initial takeoff climb. The 2,300-hour pilot reduced engine power and the airplane descended back towards the runway. Seconds later engine power was restored and the airplane was observed climbing. As the airplane was climbing, the canopy was observed "bobbing" up and down. The pilot then initiated an approximate 315-degree descending left turn. After rolling out, the airplane started banking back and forth and pitching up and down rapidly before settling in a nose down attitude. Subsequently, the airplane impacted the ground.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.