While any undesired aircraft state can present hazards during flight, the majority of accidents are a result of pilot distraction and loss of control in these situations. ## Canopy Open ### Causes - Failure to ensure canopy is latched during [[Before Takeoff Check#Canopy closed and latched]] - Canopy component failure ### Corrective Action - **Maintain control of the glider**; this is especially important during launch operations - **Only once the glider is assured to be under control, and at a safe altitude**, the pilot (or passenger) may elect to try to close and latch the canopy - If the canopy is damaged or cannot be closed, the glider should still be controllable, but with higher than normal drag; plan for a steeper approach ### Examples [<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r0I75OZmA-0?si=HOxce6BbTyZvpBy0" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>] [<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QW19OQLhSDo?si=omzcDG__maVHG6MK" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>] ## Dive Brakes Open - Usually the result of failure to ensure dive brakes locked during [[Before Takeoff Check#Dive brakes closed and locked]] - [[Visual Signals]] or poor climbing performance should alert the pilot to the situation - **Maintain control of the glider** and close the dive brakes! [<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/p5bZ7qGaOE4?si=wSJ1TDERySdmaRv4" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>]