Mcclellan - Palomar Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Carlsbad, California 92011
Sunday, August 1, 2010 16:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, at the time of rotation, the canopy started to slide rearward. As the pilot attempted to close the canopy the airplane nosed over and the propeller struck the runway, substantially damaging the airplane’s firewall. The pilot further reported that the accident could have been prevented by conducting a “second check of proper canopy closure prior to entering [the] runway.” The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s inadequate pretakeoff checks and failure to maintain control during the takeoff roll. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s diverted attention due to the open canopy.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/1/2010
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1600
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Carlsbad
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92011
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 330725N
Event Location Longitude 1171629W
Event Location Airport McClellan - Palomar Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CRQ
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 331
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1553 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID CRQ
Elevation of weather observation facility 331
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
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) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 15
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
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) 29.9
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KCRQ 012253Z 24007KT 10SM CLR 21/15 A2990 RMK AO2
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27539
NTSB Notification Source Federal Aviation Administratio
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 28 2010 5:43PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N525JH
NTSB Number WPR10CA428
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 HOLMGREEN JOHN B
Aircraft Model RV8A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 81824
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 Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Nov 23 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 270
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name MOLLER SCOTT
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City SPRING BRANCH
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 78070-5977
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Dickson Clark
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Cameron Park
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 95682
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 CRQ
Departure City Carlsbad
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code O61
Destination City Cameron Park
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 28 2010 5:43PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 24
Runway Length 4897
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --