What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Departing on runway 28 at Wadsworth muni airport (3G3) during a routine glider tow, the tow plane N8996S was not producing full power and after reaching the decision point and not attaining rotation speed, released the glider. The glider was airborne and after release, maintained runway heading, wings level and landed in a corn field to the west of Wadsworth airport. The tow aircraft remained on the ground, performed a magneto check and noticed an increase in power. The tow pilot and another pilot performed ground and airborne checks on the aircraft and concluded a magneto must have been fowled and caused the reduction of power. The glider sustained minor damage.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) DEPARTING ON RUNWAY 28 AT WADSWORTH MUNI AIRPORT (3G3) DURING A ROUTINE GLIDER TOW, THE TOW PLANE N8996S WAS NOT PRODUCING FULL POWER AND AFTER REACHING THE DECISION POINT AND NOT ATTAINING ROTATION SPEED, RELEASED THE GLIDER. THE GLIDER WAS AIRBORNE AND AFTER RELEASE, MAINTAINED RUNWAY HEADING, WINGS LEVEL AND LANDED IN A CORN FIELD TO THE WEST OF WADSWORTH AIRPORT. THE TOW AIRCRAFT REMAINED ON THE GROUND, PERFORMED A MAGNETO CHECK AND NOTICED AN INCREASE IN POWER. THE TOW PILOT AND ANOTHER PILOT PERFORMED GROUND AND AIRBORNE CHECKS ON THE AIRCRAFT AND CONCLUDED A MAGNETO MUST HAVE BEEN FOWLED AND CAUSED THE REDUCTION OF POWER. THE GLIDER SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE.
Other reports on N2973 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.