Confirms Witness Reports Canopy Was Ajar On Climbout
Below
is the National Transportation Safety Board's preliminary report on
the April 13 downing of a Lancair Legacy in Lakeland, FL. As ANN reported, the plane
crashed shortly after takeoff, as it was departing Lakeland-Linder
Regional Airport (LAL) on the last day of the annual Sun 'N Fun
Fly-In.
Coinciding with initial reports, the NTSB notes several
witnesses saw the two-seat aircraft's forward-hinged canopy cracked
open on takeoff. One witness told investigators said the plane's
pilot, Gerard Schkolnik, appeared to be manipulating the canopy on
climbout, just before the crash.
Whether the distraction of the open canopy was directly
causal to the accident, or if other factors were involved in the
fatal crash, remains to be officially determined --
Ed.
NTSB Identification: MIA08LA089
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, April 13, 2008 in Lakeland, FL
Aircraft: Dayon Thomas Lancair Legacy, registration: N1177M
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may
contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when
the final report has been completed.
On April 13, 2008, about 1120 eastern daylight time, a Thomas
Dayon amateur built Lancair, N1177M, registered to G-KAS Aviation
LLC, and operated by a private pilot, collided with the ground
shortly after takeoff from runway 27L at the Lakeland Linder
Regional Airport in Lakeland, Florida. The personal flight was
operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations
Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions
prevailed at the time of the accident. The private pilot received
fatal injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged by impact
and the subsequent post crash fire. The flight was departing at the
time of the accident.
According to witnesses, the pilot was observed having difficulty
closing the canopy on the airplane prior to takeoff. During the
takeoff climb a witness said he saw the cockpit canopy moving and
believed the pilot was pushing it up and down about 6 to 12 inches.
Another witness stated that shortly after takeoff the engine lost
power, the airplane continued straight and level and there was no
attempt by the pilot to return to the runway. The airplane then
nosed down about 40 degrees and the left wing dropped. About 3 to 5
seconds later a plume of smoke was seen coming from behind a tree
line.