Extra Flugzeugbau EA 300/S N68PW

Summary

On 20 May 2017 at about 21:59 local time, a Extra Flugzeugbau EA 300/S registered N68PW was involved in an accident near Pendelton, Oregon, United States. One person was 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

20 May 2017 at 21:59

Classification

Accident

Location

Pendelton, Oregon, United States

Nearest airport

Eastern Oregon Rgnl At Pendlet (PDT)

Coordinates

45.6947, -118.8431

Aircraft

Extra Flugzeugbau EA 300/S

Registration

N68PW

Category

Airplane

Year built

1999

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pendelton → Pendelton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR17LA116

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to follow checklists to ensure the canopy was secured before takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot reported that, shortly after starting the takeoff roll for the local flight, the canopy lifted up and then separated from the airplane. The airplane subsequently veered left, exited the runway, and struck an airport runway sign during the aborted takeoff, which resulted in substantial damage to the canopy and wing. Postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any anomalies with the canopy, canopy attachment bolts, mounting bolt holes, latches, or locking mechanism that would have precluded normal operation. Two normal checklists (the Before Starting Engine and Taxi checklists) in the airplane's pilot's operating handbook call for the pilot to check that the canopy is closed and locked before takeoff. The pilot stated that he did not remember checking that the canopy was locked and also stated that he was fairly sure that it was not latched; thus, it is likely that the pilot did not ensure that the canopy was properly secured before takeoff.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.