BOAC, I've taken this incident so to heart (see my posts #543 and 641) that I've actually designed one, albeit on my simple CAD program here - a latch that can't be closed unless it is hooked over it's mating eye-bolt/toggle! Therefore it will hang down if unlatched. This is based on the existing V2500 latch design but modified.
I'm not publishing it here in case someone in Placentia, CA pinches it without royalties!! I'm off to the patents office on Monday! Just joking!!