Amateur-built EAA BIPLANE accident near Williamsport, Pennsylvania, November 23, 1996
On November 23, 1996 at about 3:10 pm local time, a amateur-built EAA BIPLANE, registered N818Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Williamsport, Pennsylvania (Williamsport-Lycoming CO airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate preflight preparation, which resulted in opening of the unsecured canopy during the takeoff roll, and subsequent loss of directional control and a nose over. A factor was: the pilot's failure to use a checklist.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 23, 1996 · about 3:10 pm local time
- Place
- Williamsport, Pennsylvania · Williamsport-Lycoming CO · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built EAA BIPLANE EAA BIPLAN
- Registration
- N818Z · registry record · serial 1-CJZ
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot/owner of the aircraft completed the preflight and started the engine by hand propping. When he climbed into the cockpit, he closed the canopy to reduce the wind, but did not lock the canopy. After taxi and run-up, he still failed to lock the canopy, and began the takeoff roll. At rotation speed, the canopy slid back, caught his headphones, and held his head back. The pilot lost directional control, went off the runway, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented by use of a checklist.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 300 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 170 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 15, 1995
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IPT at 3:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 4,280 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 3°F (-16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:12 pm from IPT
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.