What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On August 14, 2025, at approximately 13:30Z, while on arrival into Middletown regional/Hook field airport, Middletown, OH (kmwo), the pilot ofprivacy data omitted, a Piper Sport cruiser, experienced a loss of the windshield canopy in flight. The flight originated from lebanon-warren county airport, lebanon, OH (KI68) with two (2) souls onboard and had been airborne for approximately 30 minutes conducting local flight instruction and orientation.
The pilot reported that while entering the traffic pattern at kmwo, he observed vibration around the vent window area. Upon checking the canopy latch and confirming it was secured in the latched (down) position, he heard a sudden “bang” as the canopy separated from the aircraft.
Despite the canopy departure, there was no loss of control. The pilot continued the approach and completed a safe landing at kmwo.
A witness on the ground stated that he heard a noise and watched pieces of canopy land on a golf course.
Post-flight inspection revealed damage to the left horizontal stabilizer, consistent with being impacted by the detached canopy. Preliminary assessment indicates that the separation was likely due to adhesive (silicone) failure between the canopy and the frame.
A witness stated that he observed the pilot starting the aircraft engine while the canopy was in the open “vertical” position. As outlined in the pilot’s operating handbook (POH) PS-POH-1-1-01 page 4-4, the windshield canopy must be closed and locked prior to engine start. Operating the aircraft with the canopy open during engine start is not only against recommended procedures but also introduces a significant vibration from the engine and propeller and can cause stress on the canopy structure, potentially leading to damage or failure.
Maintenance log records indicate that the canopy had been replaced in 2012.
As the FAA filed it
ON AUGUST 14, 2025, AT APPROXIMATELY 13:30Z, WHILE ON ARRIVAL INTO MIDDLETOWN REGIONAL/HOOK FIELD AIRPORT, MIDDLETOWN, OH (KMWO), THE PILOT OF^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, A PIPER SPORT CRUISER, EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF THE WINDSHIELD CANOPY IN FLIGHT. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM LEBANON-WARREN COUNTY AIRPORT, LEBANON, OH (KI68) WITH TWO (2) SOULS ONBOARD AND HAD BEEN AIRBORNE FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES CONDUCTING LOCAL FLIGHT INSTRUCTION AND ORIENTATION.
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE ENTERING THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AT KMWO, HE OBSERVED VIBRATION AROUND THE VENT WINDOW AREA. UPON CHECKING THE CANOPY LATCH AND CONFIRMING IT WAS SECURED IN THE LATCHED (DOWN) POSITION, HE HEARD A SUDDEN “BANG” AS THE CANOPY SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT.
DESPITE THE CANOPY DEPARTURE, THERE WAS NO LOSS OF CONTROL. THE PILOT CONTINUED THE APPROACH AND COMPLETED A SAFE LANDING AT KMWO.
A WITNESS ON THE GROUND STATED THAT HE HEARD A NOISE AND WATCHED PIECES OF CANOPY LAND ON A GOLF COURSE.
POST-FLIGHT INSPECTION REVEALED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER, CONSISTENT WITH BEING IMPACTED BY THE DETACHED CANOPY. PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT INDICATES THAT THE SEPARATION WAS LIKELY DUE TO ADHESIVE (SILICONE) FAILURE BETWEEN THE CANOPY AND THE FRAME.
A WITNESS STATED THAT HE OBSERVED THE PILOT STARTING THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE WHILE THE CANOPY WAS IN THE OPEN “VERTICAL” POSITION. AS OUTLINED IN THE PILOT’S OPERATING HANDBOOK (POH) PS-POH-1-1-01 PAGE 4-4, THE WINDSHIELD CANOPY MUST BE CLOSED AND LOCKED PRIOR TO ENGINE START. OPERATING THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE CANOPY OPEN DURING ENGINE START IS NOT ONLY AGAINST RECOMMENDED PROCEDURES BUT ALSO INTRODUCES A SIGNIFICANT VIBRATION FROM THE ENGINE AND PROPELLER AND CAN CAUSE STRESS ON THE CANOPY STRUCTURE, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO DAMAGE OR FAILURE.
MAINTENANCE LOG RECORDS INDICATE THAT THE CANOPY HAD BEEN REPLACED IN 2012.