Lancaster Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17543
Monday, July 2, 2012 19:55 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot initiated a takeoff and, as the airplane became airborne, the canopy opened. The pilot attempted to close the canopy and lost control of the airplane. The airplane landed hard on the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot stated that he failed to secure the canopy before takeoff and there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's attempt to secure an open canopy during takeoff, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent hard landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/2/2012
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1955
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Lancaster
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 17543
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 400720N
Event Location Longitude 0761740W
Event Location Airport Lancaster Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LNS
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 403
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1956 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID LNS
Elevation of weather observation facility 403
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
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) 13
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) 29.94
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) 30083
NTSB Notification Source FAA Harrisburg PA FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 23 2012 3:06PM
User who most recently changed record gots
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N182EV
NTSB Number ERA12CA443
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 EVEKTOR-AEROTECHNIK AS
Aircraft Model SPORTSTAR PLUS
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 20071002
Certified Max Gross Weight 1320
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 1
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 1
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection May 2 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 93
Airframe Hours 1617
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91
Aircraft Owner Name LIBERTY SPORT AVIATION LP
Aircraft Owner Street Address 418 GRANT DR
Aircraft Owner City YORK
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 17406-2361
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Adventure Flight Training LP
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Lancaster
Operator State PA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 17543
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 LNS
Departure City Lancaster
Departure State PA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1929
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code LNS
Destination City Lancaster
Destination State PA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 23 2012 3:06PM
User who most recently changed record gots
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 31
Runway Length 4101
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --