What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On October 8, 2022, at approximately 0945 local time, aircraft privacy data omitted a Schempp-Hirth glider was flying at approximately 3700 feet, when suddenly and without warning its canopy separated from the aircraft while enroute from front royal warren county airport (kfrr) to burner airport (VG55). The pilot stated that he was looking left when he heard a loud noise and felt the wind blast. Additionally, the pilot stated that he did not see the canopy fly off nor did he see a bird or other object. Initially, the pilot thought that he may have jettisoned the canopy, but noted that the latch and jettison handles were in the normal position. Since the pilot was wearing sunglasses at the time, his vision was not compromised allowing him to complete a normal landing at burner airport (VG55). During the flight, the aircraft encountered moderate to heavy turbulence causing the pilot to hit the top of his head on the canopy twice, but not hard. The pilots’ lap belt and shoulder harness were snug. Prior to flight, a full preflight was conducted that included a positive control check. The duty officer confirmed prior to takeoff, that the canopy was closed and latched through the pins. The single pilot sustained no injuries. At that time the FAA was notified.
As the FAA filed it
ON OCTOBER 8, 2022, AT APPROXIMATELY 0945 LOCAL TIME, AIRCRAFT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ A SCHEMPP-HIRTH GLIDER WAS FLYING AT APPROXIMATELY 3700 FEET, WHEN SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING ITS CANOPY SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT WHILE ENROUTE FROM FRONT ROYAL WARREN COUNTY AIRPORT (KFRR) TO BURNER AIRPORT (VG55). THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS LOOKING LEFT WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND FELT THE WIND BLAST. ADDITIONALLY, THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE CANOPY FLY OFF NOR DID HE SEE A BIRD OR OTHER OBJECT. INITIALLY, THE PILOT THOUGHT THAT HE MAY HAVE JETTISONED THE CANOPY, BUT NOTED THAT THE LATCH AND JETTISON HANDLES WERE IN THE NORMAL POSITION. SINCE THE PILOT WAS WEARING SUNGLASSES AT THE TIME, HIS VISION WAS NOT COMPROMISED ALLOWING HIM TO COMPLETE A NORMAL LANDING AT BURNER AIRPORT (VG55). DURING THE FLIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED MODERATE TO HEAVY TURBULENCE CAUSING THE PILOT TO HIT THE TOP OF HIS HEAD ON THE CANOPY TWICE, BUT NOT HARD. THE PILOTS’ LAP BELT AND SHOULDER HARNESS WERE SNUG. PRIOR TO FLIGHT, A FULL PREFLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED THAT INCLUDED A POSITIVE CONTROL CHECK. THE DUTY OFFICER CONFIRMED PRIOR TO TAKEOFF, THAT THE CANOPY WAS CLOSED AND LATCHED THROUGH THE PINS. THE SINGLE PILOT SUSTAINED NO INJURIES. AT THAT TIME THE FAA WAS NOTIFIED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.