As+ AC 4 N358R

Summary

On 13 May 2017 at about 20:20 local time, a As+ AC 4 registered N358R was involved in an accident near Blair, Nebraska, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 May 2017 at 20:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Blair, Nebraska, United States

Nearest airport

Blair Municipal Airport (BTA)

Coordinates

41.4147, -96.1089

Aircraft

As+ AC 4

Registration

N358R

Category

Glider

Year built

1997

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Blair → Blair

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN17LA181

1 person died.

The pilot's loss of control due to his diverted attention as he attempted to close the canopy that opened during initial climb.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot was making a personal local flight in the glider. The glider's canopy opened during initial climb while on an aerotow, and the pilot attempted to close the canopy. The glider entered an uncontrolled descent, impacted the departure runway and came to rest about 1,500 ft from the beginning of the runway. The glider's side-opening canopy separated from the fuselage and was found along the wreckage path. Postaccident examination of the canopy latching mechanism revealed that it was intact, and the forward and rear canopy latching pins were firmly attached to the canopy frame. The latching mechanism was actuated and functioned normally. The investigation could not determine why the canopy had opened. No mechanical anomalies were noted that would have precluded normal glider operation.The pilot was taking the medication gabapentin, which could have slowed his response time; however, the primary issue seems to have been his distraction by the open canopy. Whether effects from his medication use contributed to the pilot's lack of attention to flying the glider at the time of the accident could not be determined from the available evidence.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.