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LAX89LA245

1989-07-15 · MARICOPA, Arizona, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport E68

N925G has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (BOMBARDIER INC BD-700-1A10, built 2001), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED, RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING. ALSO CAUSAL TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE OPENING OF THE CANOPY FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

Factual narrative

THE GLIDER HAD JUST DEPARTED THE GLIDER PORT BEHIND A TOW PLANE. AT 200 FEET AGL, THE CANOPY SNAPPED OPEN AND THE TOW ROPE BROKE. THE PILOT MADE A 180 DEGREE TURN AND LANDED HARD ON THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED THE CANOPY WAS CLOSED AND LOCKED BEFORE HE STARTED THE TAKEOFF ROLL. AN FAA INSPECTOR INSPECTED THE CANOPY AND COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE LOCKING MECHANISM. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1989_LAX89LA245.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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