What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Glider departed runway 026, departed northwest on tow. While passing through 2000 feet AGL, in moderate turbulance, canopy became unlatched. Pilot attempted to secure/hold canopy while maneuvering back to airport. Over the airport, pilot circled to lose altitude, controlling the aircraft with one hand, holding the canopy down with the other. Pilot unable to apply spoiler, made long, low approach and landed in a field occupied by horses. In an attempt to avoid the animals, the pilot struck a fence post with the glider's right wing. The aircraft came to rest 350 feet from the point of impact sustaining substantial damage. No injuries to the pilot.
As the FAA filed it
GLIDER DEPARTED RUNWAY 026, DEPARTED NORTHWEST ON TOW. WHILE PASSING THROUGH 2000 FEET AGL, IN MODERATE TURBULANCE, CANOPY BECAME UNLATCHED. PILOT ATTEMPTED TO SECURE/HOLD CANOPY WHILE MANEUVERING BACK TO AIRPORT. OVER THE AIRPORT, PILOT CIRCLED TO LOSE ALTITUDE, CONTROLLING THE AIRCRAFT WITH ONE HAND, HOLDING THE CANOPY DOWN WITH THE OTHER. PILOT UNABLE TO APPLY SPOILER, MADE LONG, LOW APPROACH AND LANDED IN A FIELD OCCUPIED BY HORSES. IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID THE ANIMALS, THE PILOT STRUCK A FENCE POST WITH THE GLIDER'S RIGHT WING. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST 350 FEET FROM THE POINT OF IMPACT SUSTAINING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. NO INJURIES TO THE PILOT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.