What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) N33923 (sgs 2-33A glider) was involved in a midair collision with the PA-25-125 tow plane at appx. 3000' AGL at 1415 PDT after departing 0L7. After normal cable release and verification of separation, N33923 turned 60-70 degrees to the right (southwest) as the tow plane (7211Z) was observed to turn away and to the left (northeast). After approx. 2-3 minutes while now flying in a northerly direction. The PIC of N33923 heard/felt a loud bang from behind and saw the tow plane flying above from the left rear of N33923 to the right front. N33923 began an uncommanded turn to right which the PIC was able to correct with 10-20 degrees of aileron and was able to maintain aircraft control until a safe landing ws excuted into rwy 20L of 0L7 which was less than 2 miles from the midair sight. Substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder of N33923 resulted.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) N33923 (SGS 2-33A GLIDER) WAS INVOLVED IN A MIDAIR COLLISION WITH THE PA-25-125 TOW PLANE AT APPX. 3000' AGL AT 1415 PDT AFTER DEPARTING 0L7. AFTER NORMAL CABLE RELEASE AND VERIFICATION OF SEPARATION, N33923 TURNED 60-70 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT (SOUTHWEST) AS THE TOW PLANE (7211Z) WAS OBSERVED TO TURN AWAY AND TO THE LEFT (NORTHEAST). AFTER APPROX. 2-3 MINUTES WHILE NOW FLYING IN A NORTHERLY DIRECTION. THE PIC OF N33923 HEARD/FELT A LOUD BANG FROM BEHIND AND SAW THE TOW PLANE FLYING ABOVE FROM THE LEFT REAR OF N33923 TO THE RIGHT FRONT. N33923 BEGAN AN UNCOMMANDED TURN TO RIGHT WHICH THE PIC WAS ABLE TO CORRECT WITH 10-20 DEGREES OF AILERON AND WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL UNTIL A SAFE LANDING WS EXCUTED INTO RWY 20L OF 0L7 WHICH WAS LESS THAN 2 MILES FROM THE MIDAIR SIGHT. SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE VERTICAL STABILIZER AND RUDDER OF N33923 RESULTED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.