Accident to the Mudry Cap 232 registered F-HKAP on 15/06/2025 at Villepreux

Due to the heat, the pilot had left the canopy locked in the slightly open position while taxiing. He took off with the canopy in this position. In flight, while approaching the edge of the RMZ, he saw that the canopy had remained slightly open. Wanting to close it and while unlocking the canopy, the latter completely opened and was then torn from the structure. Without protection from the relative wind, the pilot encountered great difficulties in holding external visual references and monitoring his flight parameters. He turned around to land on runway 28 at Chavenay - Villepreux aerodrome. During the final approach, as his perception of the altitude was impaired, he held a flight path below the nominal approach slope and flew at an insufficient altitude. The aeroplane collided with the ground before runway 28.