Originally Posted by
EXDAC
"The 600 or so pounds that was ejected from the plane may have been the saving grace for the plane. "
Perhaps someone could explain that comment.
Glide ratio is not changed by change in aircraft mass. Only the speed for best, and any other, glide ratio changes with mass.
That August 1969 accident doesn't appear yet in the ASN Wikibase.
To add to EXDAC observations, drag would have increased slightly due to the ejected door so glide ratio likely reduced. Perhaps instructional pilot was correct that there was no emergency and they could have glided right into the airstrip!!
