What happened
On July 8, 2017, at approximately 13:30 UTC, a Mosquito glider was performing a winch launch at the Reutte-Höfen airfield in Tyrol, Austria. During the climb, at an altitude of roughly 180 meters, the pilot heard a snapping sound and noticed the cockpit canopy had partially opened by approximately 4 to 5 cm.
To manage the situation, the pilot used his left hand to hold the canopy in place while continuing the flight. After disconnecting from the winch cable, he initiated a landing pattern. He managed to pull the canopy closed enough to release his left hand and deploy the landing flaps. However, as the aircraft descended to an altitude of about 15 to 20 meters, the canopy began to open again. In a reflexive response, the pilot reached for the canopy with his left hand. This movement caused him to inadvertently jerk the right aileron to the right, resulting in the right wing striking the grassy ground. The impact caused the fuselage to strike the ground heavily, and the aircraft slid at approximately 90 km/h into an embankment.
The investigation
The Austrian Federal Safety Investigation Board (SUB) examined the aircraft and the flight sequence. The investigation confirmed that the pilot held all necessary valid licenses and medical certifications. The aircraft's weight and center of gravity were within permissible limits, and all maintenance records were up to date. The investigation also noted that there were no previous reports in the national database regarding canopy locking issues for this specific manufacturer's models.
Findings
- The pilot was distracted by the unexpected opening of the cockpit canopy.
- A reflexive action to secure the canopy led to an abrupt right aileron input.
- The resulting right wing strike caused a loss of lift and airspeed, leading to the ground impact.
- The aircraft sustained a total loss due to the severity of the impact.