NTSB Identification: NYC08LA059
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, December 12, 2007 in Statesville, NC
Aircraft: Wootton, John Aero Canard, registration: N199JW
Injuries: 1 Fatal.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On December 12, 2007, about 1000 eastern standard time, an amateur built Aero Canard, N199JW, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees during the initial climb after takeoff from the Statesville Regional Airport (SVH), Statesville, North Carolina. The certificated private pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the local personal flight that was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot owned the airplane, and was departing from runway 28, a 7,006-foot-long, 100-foot-wide, asphalt runway.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, witnesses reported that they observed the canopy open, as the airplane lifted off the ground. As the airplane climbed to about 100 feet above the runway, a fabric cover exited the cockpit, and went through the wooden propeller. The airplane continued to climb slowly, and subsequently impacted trees and the ground. Both wings separated during the impact sequence.

The FAA inspector noted that a shredded fabric cover, and 1-foot sections of each propeller blade tip were located near the runway 3,000-foot marker. All other portions of the airplane were accounted for at the accident site, which was located just beyond the airport property line.

The pilot reported 505 hours of total flight experience on his most recent application for an FAA third class medical certificate, which was issued on May 31, 2007