Glider Canopy Opens, Disastrous Sequence Follows
On May 9, 2020, about 1319 Pacific daylight time, a Bellanca 8GCBC, N4116Y, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident at Byron Airport (C83), Byron, California. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 glider tow flight. The pilot of the glider being towed reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge that the accident flight was his second flight of the day. He stated that a pre-takeoff checklist was performed and that he verified the gliders canopy was closed and locked. Following a normal takeoff, the tow airplane pilot initiated a slight right turn, and shortly after, the glider canopy opened.