Event GAA19CA266

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that before takeoff, he was adjusting radios and forgot to latch the canopy. After liftoff, the canopy shimmied aft about 2 ft. The pilot reported that with his right hand on the control stick, he reached with his left hand to close the canopy. The airplane was a few feet above the runway surface when the nose pitched down, and the nose gear impacted the ground. The airplane veered right and slid to a stop on the runway. The pilot reported that he did not complete his pre-departure checklist to secure the canopy because he was adjusting the recently installed radio and headset. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that, before takeoff, he was adjusting the radios and forgot to latch the canopy. After takeoff, the canopy "shimmied open about 2 ft aft." The pilot reported that he immediately reached for the canopy with his left hand while his right hand was on the control stick. The airplane was a few feet above the runway surface when he applied slight forward pressure on the control stick, but the airplane's nose pitched down, and the nose landing gear impacted the ground. The airplane veered right, the main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane then slid to a stop on the runway. The pilot reported that he did not complete the predeparture checklist to secure the canopy because he was adjusting the recently installed radio and headset. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Pitch control-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft structures-Doors-Passenger/crew doors-Incorrect use/operation - C
• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of equip/system-Pilot - C
• F Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of checklist-Pilot - F
• — Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Attention-Pilot