Mosquito strikes a wing on final while the pilot holds a reopening canopy
The pilot was seriously injured and the glider destroyed when a wing touched the ground on final. Two-thirds up a winch launch to 180 m the canopy sprang open; he held it shut with his left hand and decided to land at once. On final he had it closed enough to free the hand for the flaps, but at 15 to 20 m it opened again and he grabbed for it. His right hand jerked the stick over and the right wing touched the meadow. The glider hit hard, slid at about 90 km/h onto a path embankment and stopped at its edge. Other pilots said afterwards that the canopy was very stiff to close.
- Winch launch at the home field: The pilot checked the canopy shut by hand pressure and saw it closed, then took a winch launch that reached about 180 m above the ground.
- Canopy springs open on the climb: At about two-thirds of launch height a crack was heard and the canopy opened 4 to 5 cm. The pilot held it in that position with his left hand, which the launch did not need.
- Immediate landing decided: Straight after release he radioed the field and turned right into downwind to line up out of the Lechtal, about 1000 m out and 40 to 50 m up.
- Hand freed for the flaps: On final he had worked the canopy closed far enough to take his left hand off it and set the landing flaps.
- Canopy opens again at 15 to 20 m: The canopy opened again and the pilot reached for it reflexively with his free left hand.
- Wing contacts the meadow: His right hand jerked the stick over, the right wing touched the meadow and the fuselage hit hard. The glider slid at about 90 km/h onto a path embankment.