What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On September 6, 2014, about 1202 PST, a Piper PA25-235, N7117Z, collided with terrain while performing glider tow operations at Warner Springs gliderport, Warner Springs California. The airplane was registered to, and operated by sky sailing, inc, under the provisions of 14 code of federal regulations part 91.the airplane pilot sustained serious injuries and the airplane was destroyd during the accident sequence. The local flight departed Warner Springs about 1200 with a Schweizer sgs 2-33A glider, N7547 in tow. Two witnesses provided corroborating statements of the accident sequence. Both reported that the initial takeoff appeared normal until the first crosswind turn when the glider swung out of position, high and to the right. The tow plane then pitched nose down and yawed to the left before impacting the ground.
As the FAA filed it
ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2014, ABOUT 1202 PST, A PIPER PA25-235, N7117Z, COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN WHILE PERFORMING GLIDER TOW OPERATIONS AT WARNER SPRINGS GLIDERPORT, WARNER SPRINGS CALIFORNIA. THE AIRPLANE WAS REGISTERED TO, AND OPERATED BY SKY SAILING, INC, UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91.THE AIRPLANE PILOT SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES AND THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYD DURING THE ACCIDENT SEQUENCE. THE LOCAL FLIGHT DEPARTED WARNER SPRINGS ABOUT 1200 WITH A SCHWEIZER SGS 2-33A GLIDER, N7547 IN TOW. TWO WITNESSES PROVIDED CORROBORATING STATEMENTS OF THE ACCIDENT SEQUENCE. BOTH REPORTED THAT THE INITIAL TAKEOFF APPEARED NORMAL UNTIL THE FIRST CROSSWIND TURN WHEN THE GLIDER SWUNG OUT OF POSITION, HIGH AND TO THE RIGHT. THE TOW PLANE THEN PITCHED NOSE DOWN AND YAWED TO THE LEFT BEFORE IMPACTING THE GROUND.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.