Akers Douglas RA40 Defiant accident near Slaton, TX
On December 17, 2004, an Akers Douglas RA40 Defiant (airplane) was involved in an accident near Slaton, TX. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- December 17, 2004
- Place
- Slaton, TX
- Aircraft
- Akers Douglas RA40 Defiant · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 33.512°N, 101.649°W
- NTSB ID
- 20041222X02028
NTSB summary
On December 17, 2004, about 1340 central standard time, an Akers Douglas RA40 Defiant, inline twin-engine experimental airplane, N765MM, was destroyed when it impacted the ground, following a loss of control during takeoff initial climb from the Slaton Municipal Airport (F49), near Slaton, Texas. The instrument rated private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. An investigator from the National Transportation Safety Board, a representative from the Federal Aviation Administration, and local law enforcement officials interviewed five eyewitnesses. Summaries of their observations are cited below. Witnesses #1 and #2 were standing at the edge of the taxiway east of the ramp when they first observed the airplane at the south end of the runway about to start its takeoff roll. As the airplane accelerated down runway 36, witness #2 took several pictures of the departing airplane. The witnesses reported that shortly after takeoff they observed the canopy "pop open." The witnesses then heard a reduction in noise from the engines and observed the airplane descend back towards the runway. Seconds later, they heard the noise from the engines increase as the airplane resumed climbing. Witness #1 further reported that as the airplane was climbing, she could see the canopy "bobbing" up and down, and approximately 700 feet above ground level (agl), it appeared that the
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing factors were the opening of the canopy in-flight and the pilot's diverted attention.
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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
