WPR26LA026

On October 14, 2025, at about 1030 Pacific daylight time, an EXTRA FLUGZEUGBAU GMBH 300L, N300EX, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Arlington, Washington. The flight instructor and private pilot receiving instruction were uninjured. The aircraft operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The instructor pilot stated that prior to departure, he verified the canopy was closed and latched on three separate occasions. Several seconds after he initiated the takeoff roll, the canopy opened and then separated from the airplane. During the separation, the canopy struck and substantially damaged the rudder, right horizontal stabilizer, and right elevator trim tab. He rejected the takeoff and exited the runway. The instructor pilot reported the canopy separation was likely the result of a mechanical malfunction of the canopy latching mechanism and that the left-side locking mechanism might not have engaged its retention receptacle. An initial postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration investigator indicated that the canopy pins and hinges appeared to be intact. He observed some chipped paint on the right-side canopy pins and slight scuffing on the inboard side of the aft locking receptacles. The airplane wreckage was retained for further examination.