Trenton Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Trenton, Missouri 64683
Sunday, August 15, 2010 13:20 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that the cockpit canopy latch broke at the conclusion of the previous flight. The latch was welded and reinstalled prior to the accident flight. After takeoff, the repaired canopy latch failed as the airplane climbed through 50 feet above ground level (agl). The pilot attempted to land on the remaining runway due to the possibility of the canopy separating and striking the empennage in flight. However, after landing, he was unable to stop on the remaining runway and the airplane struck a ditch during the runway overrun. The nose landing gear subsequently collapsed and the airplane nosed over.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The canopy opening shortly after takeoff due to an inadequate repair and subsequent failure of the canopy latch, resulting in a emergency landing. Contributing to the accident was the lack of available runway remaining for the forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/15/2010
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1320
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Trenton
Event State MISSOURI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 64683
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 400501N
Event Location Longitude 0933526W
Event Location Airport Trenton Muni
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TRX
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 758
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1355 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 87
Weather Observation Facility ID IRK
Elevation of weather observation facility 966
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 48
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
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) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.06
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27486
NTSB Notification Source Airport Mgr-TRX (John Beier)
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 22 2010 1:21PM
User who most recently changed record lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N50BU
NTSB Number CEN10CA481
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name OLIVER A BRUCE
Aircraft Model RV6-A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 24441
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
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 Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Mar 23 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 771
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Bob R. Doyle
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Des Moines
Aircraft Owner State IA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 50310
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Bob R. Doyle
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Des Moines
Operator State IA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 50310
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 TRX
Departure City Trenton
Departure State MO
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1314
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code IKV
Destination City Ankeny
Destination State IA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 3 2010 12:18PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 4307
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --