Zenith CH601 N105JT

Summary

On 22 October 2018 at about 23:30 local time, a Zenith CH601 registered N105JT was involved in an accident near Junction City, Kansas, 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

22 October 2018 at 23:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Junction City, Kansas, United States

Nearest airport

Freeman Field (3JC)

Coordinates

39.0433, -96.8433

Aircraft

Zenith CH601

Registration

N105JT

Category

Airplane

Year built

2006

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Junction City → Junction City

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA19CA037

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to secure the canopy latch before takeoff, which resulted in the canopy opening in flight and the subsequent loss of airplane control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot in the experimental, amateur-built airplane reported that, about 5 minutes after takeoff, he felt air coming into the cockpit from the canopy. He noticed that the canopy latch was not adequately secured and attempted to secure it, but the canopy opened. The airplane became very difficult to control with the canopy open, so he made an emergency landing in a cornfield. During landing, the nosewheel collapsed, and the airplane skidded to a stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.