On May 17, 1997, about 1500 Alaska daylight time, a Schweizer SGS 1-26E glider, N2952H, crashed during a precautionary landing at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. The glider was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area proficiency flight when the accident occurred. The glider, registered to and operated by the Civil Air Patrol, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. On May 19, 1997, at 1225, a Civil Air Patrol officer reported in a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), the glider was being towed aloft behind a tow airplane. During the initial takeoff roll from runway 24, the glider canopy opened. The pilot released the tow line from the tow plane, and landed off the airport environment. During the landing, the glider received damage to the right side of the nose, the right wingtip, and the fuselage. The weather conditions were reported as: Wind, 220 degrees at 15 knots with gust to 20 knots; visibility, 7 statute miles; clouds, 5,000 feet broken; temperature, 53 degrees F.