Amateur-built RA40 Defiant accident near Slaton, Texas, December 17, 2004
On December 17, 2004 at about 7:40 pm local time, a amateur-built RA40 Defiant, registered N765MM, was destroyed in an accident near Slaton, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing factors were the opening of the canopy in-flight and the pilot's diverted attention.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 17, 2004 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Slaton, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RA40 Defiant
- Registration
- N765MM · registry record · serial 162
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The one-piece canopy opened to a near-vertical position during the initial takeoff climb. The 2,300-hour pilot reduced engine power and the airplane descended back towards the runway. Seconds later engine power was restored and the airplane was observed climbing. As the airplane was climbing, the canopy was observed "bobbing" up and down. The pilot then initiated an approximate 315-degree descending left turn. After rolling out, the airplane started banking back and forth and pitching up and down rapidly before settling in a nose down attitude. Subsequently, the airplane impacted the ground.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,300 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Textron Lycoming O-320-B2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Textron Lycoming O-320-B3A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: F49 Slaton TX at 7:35 pm
- Destination: Slaton TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from LBB, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.