What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) The aircraft canopy departed from the aircraft approximately 8 miles east of Redding, CA. The pilot's helmet and gear departed with the canopy. The pilot initiated an emergency landing and was not injured. The pilot reported that the latch for the canopy was still locked and safety wired and gave no indication of being loose prior to flight. An examination of the aircraft by maintenance personnel reported the left canopy rail was pulled from the aircraft. The right side rail remained intact. The left horizontal stabilizer was crushed inward over a 1 foot-span. The vertical stabilizer was also damaged similarly in the aft direction. The canopy was never found for inspection.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) THE AIRCRAFT CANOPY DEPARTED FROM THE AIRCRAFT APPROXIMATELY 8 MILES EAST OF REDDING, CA. THE PILOT'S HELMET AND GEAR DEPARTED WITH THE CANOPY. THE PILOT INITIATED AN EMERGENCY LANDING AND WAS NOT INJURED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE LATCH FOR THE CANOPY WAS STILL LOCKED AND SAFETY WIRED AND GAVE NO INDICATION OF BEING LOOSE PRIOR TO FLIGHT. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL REPORTED THE LEFT CANOPY RAIL WAS PULLED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE RIGHT SIDE RAIL REMAINED INTACT. THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER WAS CRUSHED INWARD OVER A 1 FOOT-SPAN. THE VERTICAL STABILIZER WAS ALSO DAMAGED SIMILARLY IN THE AFT DIRECTION. THE CANOPY WAS NEVER FOUND FOR INSPECTION.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.