20050829020989A

(-23) The pilot, a student conducting his first solo flight in this model glider, stated his canopy opened while in flight. He held the canopy closed with one hand through the remainder of the flight. The student stated that on his landing on runway 30 at mev he released the canopy to deploy the spoilers at 10 feet. Witnesses stated that the glider then hit hard and bounced up pitching up to near the vertical and reaching a height of 100 to 200 feet. It then turned right and the nose dropped down sharply. The aircraft subsequently flared at approximately 20 feet over a ramp area with several gliders parked on it. The aircraft continued to sink, striking two unoccupied gliders and then turning 90 degrees to the left as it slid to a stop. The glider received substantial damage to both fuselage and wings. One glider parked on the ramp received substantial damage; the other parked glider received minor damage. The sole occupant received severe injuries. Winds were light and variable.