Amateur-built HIGH 6 BERKUT 540 N976DR accident near Orlando, Florida

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to verify the canopy latches were in the locked position prior to takeoff.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff the canopy departed from the airplane. The pilot assessed that the propeller of the pusher-configured engine had been damaged based on the deceleration of the airplane and subsequently landed on the opposite direction runway without further incident. The airplane’s canopy was substantially damaged during the accident. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation, and that the accident could have been prevented by, “…verifying both canopy handles were in the locked position before takeoff.”

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA25LA102 for the full record.