C150 glider-tow pilot reported the glider's canopy came open and the glider entered an unusual attit...

Attributes
ACN	1677190
Time
Date	201908
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Cessna 150
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Climb
Route In Use	None
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Sail Plane
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Climb
Component
Aircraft Component	Cockpit Canopy Window
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 80 Flight Crew Total 2005 Flight Crew Type 1630
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control

Narrative:

I was the tow pilot in the tow plane. The takeoff was uneventful as well as the climb out. About 3 miles west of the field and approximately 2;400 feet AGL [the glider pilot] radioed me that the rear canopy had come loose and was open. I didn't feel anything unusual in the tow plane at this time regarding any excess drag or yaw. I looked over my shoulder through the back window of the tow plane and saw the canopy open. I asked him if he wanted me to tow him back to the airport within safe gliding range. At that time the tail of the tow plane drastically and rapidly lifted up putting me in a downward direction. Shortly thereafter the rope snapped. We both recovered from the unusual attitude and low altitude and returned back to the airport.there was no damage to the tow plane. The glider landed and some damage was recognized; mainly the rear canopy was missing and the front canopy glass had cracked; the majority of the front canopy was also missing. There was also some damage to the fiberglass on the nose section of the glider. Other light marks were noticed as well.no bodily injuries were encountered.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C150 glider-tow pilot reported the glider's canopy came open and the glider entered an unusual attitude; snapping the tow rope.

Narrative: I was the tow pilot in the tow plane. The takeoff was uneventful as well as the climb out. About 3 miles west of the field and approximately 2;400 feet AGL [the glider pilot] radioed me that the rear canopy had come loose and was open. I didn't feel anything unusual in the tow plane at this time regarding any excess drag or yaw. I looked over my shoulder through the back window of the tow plane and saw the canopy open. I asked him if he wanted me to tow him back to the airport within safe gliding range. At that time the tail of the tow plane drastically and rapidly lifted up putting me in a downward direction. Shortly thereafter the rope snapped. We both recovered from the unusual attitude and low altitude and returned back to the airport.There was no damage to the tow plane. The glider landed and some damage was recognized; mainly the rear canopy was missing and the front canopy glass had cracked; the majority of the front canopy was also missing. There was also some damage to the fiberglass on the nose section of the glider. Other light marks were noticed as well.No bodily injuries were encountered.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.