Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Slaton, Texas 79364
Friday, December 17, 2004 13:40 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/17/2004
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1340
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Slaton
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 79364
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 333044N
Event Location Longitude 1013857W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1353 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 310
Weather Observation Facility ID LBB
Elevation of weather observation facility 3282
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 13
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 17943
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC
NTSB Notification Date Dec 17 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1603
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 7 2005 10:33AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Lubbock, Texas

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N765MM
NTSB Number DFW05LA043
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Akers Douglas
Aircraft Model RA40 Defiant
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 162
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Michael P Marshall
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2108 Vicksburg Ave
Aircraft Owner City Lubbock
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 79407
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code F49
Departure City SLATON
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1335
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Slaton
Destination State TX
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Apr 18 2005 5:55PM
User who most recently changed record CASH
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --