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CEN10CA481

2010-08-15 · Trenton, Missouri, United States · Serious · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport TRX

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

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.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that the cockpit canopy latch had broken 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. The pilot attempted to land on the remaining runway due to the possibility of the canopy separating and striking the empennage in flight. However, he was unable to stop on the remaining runway and the airplane struck a ditch during the runway excursion. The nose landing gear subsequently collapsed and the airplane nosed over. 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. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Aircraft-Aircraft structures-Windows-windshield system-Flight compartment windows-Failure - C
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Maintenance-Repair-Owner/builder - C
  • C Environmental issues-Operating environment-Airport facilities/design-Runway/landing area length-Contributed to outcome - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2010_CEN10CA481.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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Related research

Matched on aircraft type or causal vocabulary (stall, runway excursion). All research papers