What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Midair collision between tow plane pa 25-235, N7023Z and glider ASW-27, N127AL while turning onto final approach. Glider was in right traffic and tow plane was in left traccic. Both were wings up when collision occurred. Tow plane right wing up and glider left wing up. Airport is private glider port named crazy creek glider port it is located approximately 2.5 NM east north east of the town of Middletown, CA 95461. Tow plane and glider pilot had conversation regarding upcoming flight as they were assembling the glider. This was a planned glider practice flight to capture wave activities due to northerly wind flow. Only the glider was equipped with a two way radio.
As the FAA filed it
MIDAIR COLLISION BETWEEN TOW PLANE PA 25-235, N7023Z AND GLIDER ASW-27, N127AL WHILE TURNING ONTO FINAL APPROACH. GLIDER WAS IN RIGHT TRAFFIC AND TOW PLANE WAS IN LEFT TRACCIC. BOTH WERE WINGS UP WHEN COLLISION OCCURRED. TOW PLANE RIGHT WING UP AND GLIDER LEFT WING UP. AIRPORT IS PRIVATE GLIDER PORT NAMED CRAZY CREEK GLIDER PORT IT IS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 2.5 NM EAST NORTH EAST OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLETOWN, CA 95461. TOW PLANE AND GLIDER PILOT HAD CONVERSATION REGARDING UPCOMING FLIGHT AS THEY WERE ASSEMBLING THE GLIDER. THIS WAS A PLANNED GLIDER PRACTICE FLIGHT TO CAPTURE WAVE ACTIVITIES DUE TO NORTHERLY WIND FLOW. ONLY THE GLIDER WAS EQUIPPED WITH A TWO WAY RADIO.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.