What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) The tow plane and glider departed runway 17. At approximately 150' AGL, the glider pilot suspected problems with the tow plane and released the tow rope from the glider. The glider made a turn to the left and then circled and made a landing onto the hard surface runway 35. The tow plane made a slight turn to the right and lost altitude until it hit the row of trees at the north edge of the quarry. It then descended into the quarry and hit a conveyor. A few moments later the aircraft burst into flames, destroying most of the aircraft.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) THE TOW PLANE AND GLIDER DEPARTED RUNWAY 17. AT APPROXIMATELY 150' AGL, THE GLIDER PILOT SUSPECTED PROBLEMS WITH THE TOW PLANE AND RELEASED THE TOW ROPE FROM THE GLIDER. THE GLIDER MADE A TURN TO THE LEFT AND THEN CIRCLED AND MADE A LANDING ONTO THE HARD SURFACE RUNWAY 35. THE TOW PLANE MADE A SLIGHT TURN TO THE RIGHT AND LOST ALTITUDE UNTIL IT HIT THE ROW OF TREES AT THE NORTH EDGE OF THE QUARRY. IT THEN DESCENDED INTO THE QUARRY AND HIT A CONVEYOR. A FEW MOMENTS LATER THE AIRCRAFT BURST INTO FLAMES, DESTROYING MOST OF THE AIRCRAFT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.