I departing fly-ins, we often don't follow our "normal" run-up procedures.  We end up checking the mags and prop rolling down a taxiway.  So it's possible he didn't get the canopy latched as he went through his before takeoff checklist.  But I doubt that's the cause of the crash.  I'm guessing he attempted to latch the canopy shortly after takeoff and got slow, stalled and spun.  It's a sad, but a fairly common scenario.

 

My sincere condolences to the family.

 

Mike Easley

Colorado Springs