Amateur-built Varieze accident near Punta Gorda, Florida, November 18, 2006
On November 18, 2006 at about 3:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Varieze, registered N75EZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Punta Gorda, Florida (Charlotte airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane. A factor in the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight, which did not ensure the security of the canopy before flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 18, 2006 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Punta Gorda, Florida · Charlotte · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Varieze
- Registration
- N75EZ · registry record · serial 2173
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated to the NTSB Investigator that he had problems locking the canopy. He would try closing the canopy several times before it would lock correctly. When he closed the canopy for the accident flight "it did not feel right" but elected to continue the flight. At about 500 feet above the ground, after takeoff, the canopy popped open. He stayed in the pattern and was on final approach while holding down the canopy. He released his hand from the control stick to throttle back, the airplane veered left. He could not regain control of the airplane and impacted the ground. The responding FAA inspector stated that during the post accident examination, the two front latches to secure the canopy down did not engage when the canopy was in the down and locked position. When lifted, the canopy to windshield miss alignment was about 3/4 of an inch into the wind stream.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,975 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown Unknown (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KPGD Punta Gorda FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
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.