Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. A factor was the pilot's improper in-flight decision to abort the initial climb due to an open canopy.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot was in a glider being towed by an airplane. After takeoff, about 50 feet above the ground, the rear canopy of the glider 'banged' open. The pilot decided to abort the climb in an attempt to prevent canopy damage. He released from tow, and tried to land on the remaining runway. The pilot added that during the attempt, he lost control of the glider, and impacted terrain.
Source record
Factual narrative
On May 13, 2000, about 1455 Eastern Daylight Time, a Grob G103 (glider), N3872G, was substantially damaged during an aborted climb-out from Botsford Airport (67D), Wellington, Ohio. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The glider was departing Runway 18, a 2,700 foot long and 300 foot wide grass runway. The pilot stated that the glider was being towed by an airplane. About 50 feet above the ground, the rear canopy "banged" opened, and the pilot decided to abort the climb in an attempt to prevent canopy damage. He released from tow, and tried to land on the remaining runway. During the attempt, he lost control of the glider, it "came down flat," and impacted terrain. The glider came to rest off the right side of the runway, abeam the departure end. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any. At 1453, the reported winds at an airport approximately 10 miles from the accident site, were from 270 degrees at 16 knots, gusting to 24 knots.