What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Note: inspector requested statement from the usafa cadet pilots through the military point-of-contact; as of this date, no statement has been received. The narrative below results from second hand conversations with NTSB. Aircraft was on a towing operation at the USAF academy, CO. Pilot picked up glider with student/instructor and departed south. During a climbing downwind departure, the glider pilots stated that the tow aircraft drifted below their field of sight. The glider procedure in this event is to disconnect after a pre-determined amount of time. Glider crew stated they also lost communications with the tow aircraft during this period. The instructor pilot attempted several disconnects and during this time she felt a sharp tug on the towrope which apparently was the "weak link" breaking, separating the towrope. She reported that she was "losing the tow." She then stated that "the tow has struck the ground." The glider returned to the usafa field for a safe landing.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) NOTE: INSPECTOR REQUESTED STATEMENT FROM THE USAFA CADET PILOTS THROUGH THE MILITARY POINT-OF-CONTACT; AS OF THIS DATE, NO STATEMENT HAS BEEN RECEIVED. THE NARRATIVE BELOW RESULTS FROM SECOND HAND CONVERSATIONS WITH NTSB. AIRCRAFT WAS ON A TOWING OPERATION AT THE USAF ACADEMY, CO. PILOT PICKED UP GLIDER WITH STUDENT/INSTRUCTOR AND DEPARTED SOUTH. DURING A CLIMBING DOWNWIND DEPARTURE, THE GLIDER PILOTS STATED THAT THE TOW AIRCRAFT DRIFTED BELOW THEIR FIELD OF SIGHT. THE GLIDER PROCEDURE IN THIS EVENT IS TO DISCONNECT AFTER A PRE-DETERMINED AMOUNT OF TIME. GLIDER CREW STATED THEY ALSO LOST COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE TOW AIRCRAFT DURING THIS PERIOD. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT ATTEMPTED SEVERAL DISCONNECTS AND DURING THIS TIME SHE FELT A SHARP TUG ON THE TOWROPE WHICH APPARENTLY WAS THE "WEAK LINK" BREAKING, SEPARATING THE TOWROPE. SHE REPORTED THAT SHE WAS "LOSING THE TOW." SHE THEN STATED THAT "THE TOW HAS STRUCK THE GROUND." THE GLIDER RETURNED TO THE USAFA FIELD FOR A SAFE LANDING.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.