Truth Or Consequences Municipa Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Truth Or Consequences, New Mexico 87901
Tuesady, January 3, 2012 11:30 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Prior to takeoff, the pilot forgot to properly latch the canopy. Shortly after rotation, the pilot noticed that the canopy had partially opened, which resulted in a distraction and a loss of airplane control. Subsequently, the airplane contacted the runway, and the landing gear collapsed. The airplane came to rest upright on the side of the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuselage was bent and buckled. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot did not maintain airplane control during takeoff due to his distraction with the improperly secured canopy, which he forgot to latch.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/3/2012
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1130
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Truth or Consequences
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 87901
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 331413N
Event Location Longitude 1071618W
Event Location Airport Truth or Consequences Municipa
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TCS
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 4853
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
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) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
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) 29604
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 26 2012 1:24PM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N120J
NTSB Number CEN12CA121
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 BUTLER JOHN R
Aircraft Model SX 300
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 60
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats 2
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 1 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1350
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name RAINBOW SPORTS INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City ENID
Aircraft Owner State OK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 73702-3370
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name ON FILE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City ENID
Operator State OK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 73702-3370
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 TCS
Departure City Truth or Consequences
Departure State NM
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1130
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code TCS
Destination City Truth or Consequences
Destination State NM
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 19 2012 9:58AM
User who most recently changed record saua
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 13
Runway Length 7200
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --