What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On August 2, 2017, N128LA launched from Garner Field (kuva), in Uvalde, Texas, as part of a soaring competition that was being held there. The glider, a LAK-17AT-18, was being towed by N42VA, a Piper pawnee. The two aircraft were attached to each other by a tow rope, which was attached by trained ground personnel for the competition.
The takeoff was normal, but the rope disconnected from pawnee N42VA at approximately 200 feet AGL. The glider was maneuvered to a field instead of returning to the airport due to the water for the on-board ballast system making the glider heavier with less gliding ability. The airman landed the aircraft on a field of brush where it caused significant damage to the airframe. The cockpit remained mostly undamaged and the airman walked out without injuries.
During the investigation, it was noted that the hooking systems for the tow aircraft and the glider were in good order, as well as, the rope. The hooking and release mechanisms were all tested and the rope was inspected for frays and hook ring integrity.
Several sme's were interviewed and it is the believe that the tow rope wasn't properly attached to the tow plane, leading to a disconnect at too low of an altitude.
As the FAA filed it
ON AUGUST 2, 2017, N128LA LAUNCHED FROM GARNER FIELD (KUVA), IN UVALDE, TEXAS, AS PART OF A SOARING COMPETITION THAT WAS BEING HELD THERE. THE GLIDER, A LAK-17AT-18, WAS BEING TOWED BY N42VA, A PIPER PAWNEE. THE TWO AIRCRAFT WERE ATTACHED TO EACH OTHER BY A TOW ROPE, WHICH WAS ATTACHED BY TRAINED GROUND PERSONNEL FOR THE COMPETITION.
THE TAKEOFF WAS NORMAL, BUT THE ROPE DISCONNECTED FROM PAWNEE N42VA AT APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET AGL. THE GLIDER WAS MANEUVERED TO A FIELD INSTEAD OF RETURNING TO THE AIRPORT DUE TO THE WATER FOR THE ON-BOARD BALLAST SYSTEM MAKING THE GLIDER HEAVIER WITH LESS GLIDING ABILITY. THE AIRMAN LANDED THE AIRCRAFT ON A FIELD OF BRUSH WHERE IT CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE AIRFRAME. THE COCKPIT REMAINED MOSTLY UNDAMAGED AND THE AIRMAN WALKED OUT WITHOUT INJURIES.
DURING THE INVESTIGATION, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE HOOKING SYSTEMS FOR THE TOW AIRCRAFT AND THE GLIDER WERE IN GOOD ORDER, AS WELL AS, THE ROPE. THE HOOKING AND RELEASE MECHANISMS WERE ALL TESTED AND THE ROPE WAS INSPECTED FOR FRAYS AND HOOK RING INTEGRITY.
SEVERAL SME'S WERE INTERVIEWED AND IT IS THE BELIEVE THAT THE TOW ROPE WASN'T PROPERLY ATTACHED TO THE TOW PLANE, LEADING TO A DISCONNECT AT TOO LOW OF AN ALTITUDE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.