Schempp-Hirth STANDARD CIRRUS accident near Moriarty, New Mexico, September 5, 2010
On September 5, 2010 at about 8:40 pm local time, a Schempp-Hirth STANDARD CIRRUS (glider), registered N4664, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Moriarty, New Mexico. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inadvertent opening of the cockpit canopy for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 2010 · about 8:40 pm local time
- Place
- Moriarty, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schempp-Hirth STANDARD CIRRUS · all STANDARD CIRRUSs on the register
- Registration
- N4664 · no longer on the register · serial 172
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While being towed aloft behind an airplane, the glider’s cockpit canopy inadvertently opened. The glider pilot released from tow and attempted to close the canopy to no avail. The pilot entered the airport traffic pattern for landing about 20 minutes later. While on final approach, the pilot was unable to activate the dive brakes to shorten the landing distance due to her left hand being used to hold the canopy down. The glider crossed the runway threshold around 300 feet above ground level, and continued past the end of the runway for approximately one mile before she performed an off-airport landing. During landing the glider’s right wing impacted a fence post, resulting in structural damage. The reason for the inadvertent canopy opening was not determined.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during takeoff defining event
- Landing area overshoot during landing
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Windows › windshield system › (general) › Malfunction
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 61 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 22 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 1, 2010
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,869 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 728 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
The flight
- Departed from: 0E0 Moriarty NM
- Destination: 0E0 Moriarty NM
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.50 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 pm from 0E0, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN10CA542.