Van's RV-12 N73712

Summary

On 29 August 2011 at about 14:30 local time, a Van's RV-12 registered N73712 was involved in an accident near Windom, Minnesota, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 August 2011 at 14:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Windom, Minnesota, United States

Nearest airport

Windom Municipal Airport (KMWM)

Coordinates

43.9133, -95.1094

Aircraft

Van's RV-12

Registration

N73712

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Windom → Windom

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN11LA601

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's loss of airplane control after liftoff due to his distraction with the unsecured canopy, which he did not lock before takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he inadvertently did not secure the canopy latch after entering the cabin. After liftoff, he noticed air entering the cockpit from the unsecured canopy. He stated that he was distracted with securing the canopy as the airplane descended toward the runway. The airplane collided with the runway as he attempted to reestablish a level flight attitude. The airplane subsequently slid off the right side of the runway into a soybean field. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded the normal operation of the airplane. Additionally, he stated that the accident could have been prevented had he focused on flying the airplane instead of attempting to secure the unlatched canopy.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.