G103 C front canopy unlatched on launch — opens on final

On approach at Stauffenbuehl near Eschwege, the pilot and passenger of a Grob G103 C Twin III Acro were fatally injured. Passenger video showed the front canopy lock lever in the unlocked position before and during the winch launch; the canopy was never latched. The glider returned to land on RWY 20, opposite the launch. At about 30 m AGL on final the canopy opened; the pilot tried to hold or close it, the glider went into a steep nose-down attitude and impacted about 40 m past the threshold. It was the fourth flight of the day with the same passenger; the three previous had been 5-minute circuits.

1. Winch launch and local flight: The G103 C launched from RWY 02 at Stauffenbühl at 16:52 with pilot and passenger; thermalled west of the airfield then returned for landing on RWY 20 (opposite the launch direction).
2. Front canopy unlatched at launch: A passenger video showed the front canopy locking lever in the unlocked position immediately before and during the winch launch; the canopy was not latched for this flight.
3. 4th flight of day, same passenger: This was the 4th flight of the day with the same passenger; the three previous flights had been short, 5-minute circuits.
4. Canopy opens at ~30 m on final: At about 30 m above ground on final approach to RWY 20, the front canopy opened in flight; the winch operator observed this as the glider passed.
5. Pilot tries to hold or close canopy: The pilot attempted to hold or re-close the opened front canopy while still on short final, rather than maintain normal flight attitude and control.
6. Steep nose-down attitude: While the pilot was occupied with the canopy, the glider transitioned to a steep nose-down attitude and descended rapidly toward the runway.
7. Runway impact — both fatal: The glider impacted the runway about 40 m past the threshold of RWY 20 and was destroyed; both occupants died of polytrauma.