The pilot reported that after completing his before takeoff checklist, the checklist was “blown” outside of the Evektor Sportstar at the airport in Eufaula, Alabama.
After he retrieved the checklist and restarted his engine, he stated that he “scanned all the instruments but did not go through the complete checklist.”
As the main landing gear lifted off the runway during the takeoff roll the canopy “popped up.”
The pilot stated that as he was attempting to close the canopy, the airplane drifted to the left of the runway and hit trees about 8 feet above the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and empennage.
Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain direction control during takeoff, and the pilot’s failure to ensure that the canopy of the airplane was secured and locked prior to departure.
NTSB Identification: GAA15CA198
This July 2015 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Respectfully, I don’t disagree with all the comments about checklist. But I’m thinking the focus here should be on first principles:
When something unusual happens, first fly the plane. I think the point of this whole accident is not losing the checklist, but choosing to prioritize closing the canopy over flying the aircraft.
Just my 2 cents..
This just happened to me this past weekend, since I have a canopy that slides. I stopped the engine, retrieved the checklist and started from the beginning after taking a deep breath. Nothing abnormal happened, had a great adventure.
Sometimes we just have to take a step back, relax and start over. Nothing is that important than to not completely follow the checklist each and every time.
In this pilots case you just can’t fix stupid.
He said he retrieved his checklist, but then spaced and spooled. It’s a classic task interruption issue. The only antidote I’ve found that has a chance of success is to start over from the beginning… and in this pilot’s situation, holding more firmly to the checklist… 🙂
Fly. The. Plane.
The checklist blew away so you don’t complete the checklist? Is that supposed to be an excuse?
It is clear some simply do not believe the simple rule that humans cannot be trusted to complete a series of tasks reliably from memory.
And one cannot inject competency or some professionalism…will always remain voluntary…plain truth!!