19980801026789A

The pilot stated that when he was about 100 feet off the ground, and attached to the tower airplane, his canopy suddenly opened. He climbed to 200 fet, released the towrope, and made a 180 degree turn to the left to return to the airport for landing. While clearing a wooded area before the runway, he noticed that his sink rate was too high. He pulled up on the stick, but his right wingtip brushed the top of a tree. The airplane stalled and crashed about 300 feet before the runway. (-23) pilot reported he preflighted the glider aircraft which included checking the canopy for security. Approximately 1315L he took off (under tow of N5168T, a champ-7-kcab) from coastal airport, FL runway 36. He stated his takeoff was normal, but approximately 100 feet AGL the canopy blew open. This affected his visibility, but he was able to continue flight until reaching 200 feet AGL, the minimum safe altitude to safetly return to the airport. After releasing the tow, he first made a left hand turn into light wind before turning right from a heading of 180 degrees to 250 for an attempt to land at the airport. The aircraft hit several trees before impacting the gr ound. The single pilot was not injured; however, the aircraft sustained substantial damage, including a broken right spar, nose cone cracked, tail and center fuselage bulked and cracked, and stressing t of the left wing. Pilot is recommended for counseling on preflight requirements.