# NTSB NYC02LA004: Rich Woodstock I, N21468, Waynesburg, PA, October 2, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 2, 2001, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Waynesburg, PA - Coordinates: 39.889244, -80.180824 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8892&lon=-80.1808&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report January 2, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 53570 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA004 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53570/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA004 ## Probable cause An improperly secured canopy latch, which resulted in canopy separation during liftoff and the pilot's subsequent loss of control. A factor was the improper installation of the latch. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - maintenance,installation - improper, owner/builder (contributing factor) - window,canopy - unlatched - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - window,canopy - separation - Hard landing, other ## Analysis The student pilot/builder of the glider made five successful tow releases and landings from a paved runway, and was making his first tow release from grass. The driver towed the glider to the starting point, the student pilot got onboard, and he and another individual installed the canopy. The student pilot/builder checked the security of the canopy with a "push-up" on it, then began the glider tow. At liftoff, about 38 knots, the glider hit a clump of grass, and the canopy departed the airframe. The student pilot raised his left arm to protect his face, and thought he must have pulled back on the control stick as he avoided the canopy. The glider stalled about 10 feet in the air, then hit the ground. The student pilot/builder had difficulty latching the canopy prior to previous tows, and felt that the latching mechanism may have been twisted. ## Factual narrative On October 2, 2001, about 1100 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt Woodstock I glider, N21468, received minor damage when the canopy came off during a ground tow release at Greene County Airport (WAY), Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. The certificated student pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was on file for the local personal flight, which was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the student pilot, who was also the builder of the glider, the accident tow release was the fifth of six that were planned for the day. The purposes of the tow releases were to check the glider before a long test flight and to accustom the student pilot to the glider's flight characteristics. According to the driver of the tow vehicle, the student pilot/builder had made the earlier successful tow releases and landings from a paved runway, and was making his first tow release from grass. The driver towed the glider to the starting point, the student pilot boarded it, and he and another individual installed the canopy. The student pilot/builder reported that he checked the security of the canopy with a "push-up" on it, then began the glider tow. Glider liftoff occurred about 38 knots. At liftoff, the glider hit a clump of grass, and the canopy departed the airframe. The student pilot/builder raised his left arm to protect his face, and pulled back on the control stick as he avoided the canopy. The glider stalled about 10 feet in the air and hit the ground. The student pilot/builder suffered a compression fracture of the second lumbar vertebrae. The student pilot/builder later stated that he had had trouble latching the canopy prior to previous tows, and felt that although he pushed up on it to check it, the latching mechanism was probably twisted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N21468](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N21468-2018-10-23), registration cancelled 2018-10-23, S/N 001, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Rich Woodstock I - Registry model: [Rich Harry A WOODSTOCK I](https://openairdocs.org/model/rich-harry-a-woodstock-i) (registry code 056074I) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider, amateur-built - Serial number: 01 - Airframe hours: 1 - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Harry Rich - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 30, 2001, 1 hours before - Departed: WAY, Waynesburg, PA - Destination: Waynesburg, PA - Airport: WAY, Greene County, runway 27, 3,500 × 75 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 72; injuries: serious; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: single; flight hours: 44 total, 1 in this make and model, 11 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 9 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: AFJ, 20 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20011002025829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011002025829A), Oct 2, 2001: Waynesburg, PA, No damage. (-23) The aircraft (glider) was being towed by a small truck for a ground launch on turf, as the glider began to lift-off the canopy came loose and broke away… ## Other investigations on N21468 (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB CEN16LA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA007), Oct 11, 2015: Rich Harry A Woodstock I (N21468), Decatur, TX, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while turning from the downwind to the base leg of the pattern in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in the glider exceeding its critical… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.