What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Fatal a/c was glider tow-plane returning to airport. A glider CFI (witness), stated that gliders typically landed on rwy 25 (rt traffic) and the tow-plane landed rwy 07 (rt traffic). If winds were more than light and variable, the tow-plane would land rwy 25, left traffic (tow-plane always remaining south of rwy 07/25). On this last flight the CFI observed the tow-plane overshoot final for rwy 07 to the north side of rwy 07, then make a steep right turn back toward the south. The CFI estimates that the tow-plane was at 300' above ground, or less, and angle of bank 70 degrees or more. The CFI stated that the flight maneuver observed was not typical of this pilot. The CFI did not see the accident impact, but sensed something was very wrong.
As the FAA filed it
FATAL A/C WAS GLIDER TOW-PLANE RETURNING TO AIRPORT. A GLIDER CFI (WITNESS), STATED THAT GLIDERS TYPICALLY LANDED ON RWY 25 (RT TRAFFIC) AND THE TOW-PLANE LANDED RWY 07 (RT TRAFFIC). IF WINDS WERE MORE THAN LIGHT AND VARIABLE, THE TOW-PLANE WOULD LAND RWY 25, LEFT TRAFFIC (TOW-PLANE ALWAYS REMAINING SOUTH OF RWY 07/25). ON THIS LAST FLIGHT THE CFI OBSERVED THE TOW-PLANE OVERSHOOT FINAL FOR RWY 07 TO THE NORTH SIDE OF RWY 07, THEN MAKE A STEEP RIGHT TURN BACK TOWARD THE SOUTH. THE CFI ESTIMATES THAT THE TOW-PLANE WAS AT 300' ABOVE GROUND, OR LESS, AND ANGLE OF BANK 70 DEGREES OR MORE. THE CFI STATED THAT THE FLIGHT MANEUVER OBSERVED WAS NOT TYPICAL OF THIS PILOT. THE CFI DID NOT SEE THE ACCIDENT IMPACT, BUT SENSED SOMETHING WAS VERY WRONG.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N4369Y · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.