Aeromot AMT200 N46068

Summary

On 20 September 2009 at about 17:00 local time, a Aeromot AMT200 registered N46068, operated by David Shaeffer, was involved in an accident near Wheeling, West Virginia, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 September 2009 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Wheeling, West Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Wheeling Ohio County Airport (HLG)

Coordinates

40.1750, -80.6461

Aircraft

Aeromot AMT200

Registration

N46068

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

David Shaeffer

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Wheeling → Wheeling

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA09CA534

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to properly secure the canopy latch which resulted in an in-flight canopy opening.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, he had just leveled off the motor glider after an initial climb when the left canopy latch loosened and the canopy raised up about 2 inches. With wind blowing into the cockpit area, the pilot returned to the departure airport and made a straight-in approach, landing left of runway centerline. The motor glider subsequently veered to the left during the landing rollout and groundlooped, striking runway signage and lighting, and substantially damaging the composite left wing. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies noted with the motor glider, and the canopy latch system functioned normally. The pilot, who reported 39 hours in make and model, also noted "vision problems with airflow into cockpit" during the approach and landing. Winds, recorded at the airport about the time of the accident, were variable, between 3 and 6 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.