N120J – BUTLER JOHN R SX 300 – 2012-01-03 NTSB Accident Report

On January 03, 2012, a Butler John R SX 300 (N120J) was involved in an incident near Truth or Consequences, NM. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot did not maintain airplane control during takeoff due to his distraction with the improperly secured canopy, which he forgot to latch.

Prior to takeoff, the pilot forgot to properly latch the canopy. Shortly after rotation, the pilot noticed the canopy had partially opened. Subsequently, the airplane contacted the runway and the landing gear collapsed. The airplane came to rest upright on the side of the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the fuselage was bent and buckled. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

This incident is documented in NTSB report CEN12CA121. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N120J.