Amateur-built RV4 accident near Conroe, Texas, May 13, 2026
On May 13, 2026 at about 5:30 pm local time, a 2000 amateur-built RV4, registered N292M, was substantially damaged in an accident during prior to flight near Conroe, Texas (Conroe North Houston Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to properly latch the canopy before flight, which led to the canopy opening shortly after takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 13, 2026 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Conroe, Texas · Conroe North Houston Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV4 UNDESIGNAT, built 2000
- Registration
- N292M · registry record · serial WB001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, the canopy opened on his experimental airplane because he failed to properly latch it before takeoff. He was unable to close the canopy after it opened and decided to land the airplane straight ahead on the remaining runway. The airplane subsequently overran the departure end of the runway and came to rest in the grass. The engine mount sustained substantial damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Attempted remediation/recovery during takeoff
- Ground handling event during prior to flight defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Doors › Passenger/crew doors › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 17,947 hours in all; 773 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: August 29, 2024
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,139 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 10, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming OX-340-A1B2T8 (piston); 773 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CXO Conroe TX at 5:30 pm
- Destination: T78 Liberty TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 12:39 pm from KCXO, 4 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KCXO 131739Z VRB03KT 10SM FEW050 29/16 A3010
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN26LA205.