Pitts biplane loses canopy on takeoff roll due to failure of pilot to properly secure it.

Attributes
ACN	715255
Time
Date	200610
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bzn.airport
State Reference	MT
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	S-2 All Series
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground : takeoff roll
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 1300 flight time type : 500
ASRS Report	715255
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	controller : local
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : rejected takeoff
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance ATC Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

I forgot to latch pitts canopy closed before starting takeoff. Canopy blew off airplane after about 100 ft run. I applied brakes and stopped airplane; then taxied off first taxiway. No injuries; solo flight. Primary reason: failure to complete pretkof checklist. Additional factor: ATC cleared me for expedited takeoff and I let my desire to please tower interfere with my completing checklist. Corrective action: 1) don't let tower dictate my actions. 2) don't call tower before rechking that all is ready for flight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PITTS BIPLANE LOSES CANOPY ON TKOF ROLL DUE TO FAILURE OF PLT TO PROPERLY SECURE IT.

Narrative: I FORGOT TO LATCH PITTS CANOPY CLOSED BEFORE STARTING TKOF. CANOPY BLEW OFF AIRPLANE AFTER ABOUT 100 FT RUN. I APPLIED BRAKES AND STOPPED AIRPLANE; THEN TAXIED OFF FIRST TXWY. NO INJURIES; SOLO FLT. PRIMARY REASON: FAILURE TO COMPLETE PRETKOF CHKLIST. ADDITIONAL FACTOR: ATC CLRED ME FOR EXPEDITED TKOF AND I LET MY DESIRE TO PLEASE TWR INTERFERE WITH MY COMPLETING CHKLIST. CORRECTIVE ACTION: 1) DON'T LET TWR DICTATE MY ACTIONS. 2) DON'T CALL TWR BEFORE RECHKING THAT ALL IS READY FOR FLT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.