Colonel James Jabara Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wichita, Kansas 67226
Friday, February 17, 2006 15:14 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot said that he did his run-up check and took the runway for takeoff. The airplane rotated, took off, and was climbing when approximately 80 feet above the ground, the canopy opened. The pilot said the canopy went to the full open position and the airplane subsequently yawed 45 degrees right. The pilot lowered the airplane's nose, applied full left rudder, and reduced the engine power to idle. The pilot said he then switched hands on the control stick and with his right hand, reached up and pulled the canopy closed. He said his airspeed was just above the stall speed and his wings were level. The airplane was approximately 20 feet above the ground when it "pancaked perfectly flat to the side of the runway." An examination of the airplane canopy latching mechanism and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate preparation prior to takeoff, and his failure to maintain control of the airplane resulting in a stall and subsequent crash. Factors contributing to the accident were the unsecured canopy latch, the pilot's diverted attention, and the stall mush.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/17/2006
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1514
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Wichita
Event State KANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 67226
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 374451N
Event Location Longitude 0971316W
Event Location Airport Colonel James Jabara
Event Location Nearest Airport ID AAO
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.5
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1420
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1454 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID AAO
Elevation of weather observation facility 1420
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
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) -5
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 19
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.59
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 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 19976
NTSB Notification Source FAA Central Region Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date Feb 17 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Aug 29 2006 3:49PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Wichita, KS FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N437T
NTSB Number DEN06LA039
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Spane
Aircraft Model RV-4
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 84
Certified Max Gross Weight 1800
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Jun 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 21
Airframe Hours 112.7
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Roger L. Spane
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8610 Mulberry Drive
Aircraft Owner City Wichita
Aircraft Owner State KS
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 67226
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code AAO
Departure City Wichita
Departure State KS
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1514
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MYJ
Destination City Mexico
Destination State MO
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 12 2006 1:43PM
User who most recently changed record BOWL
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 6100
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --