ASK 21 climbs too high on tow, upsetting a light towplane

A light Ecolight towplane was upset and badly damaged — but flew on to land safely — after the glider it was towing climbed too high and pitched its nose violently down. Soon after take-off the ASK 21, flown by a pilot with little recent practice and used to a far more powerful tug, drifted out of position; the glider pilot had looked down to read and radio the airspeed and lost sight of the towplane. The towplane went almost vertically nose-down and clipped treetops as it recovered; the glider released and landed unhurt. A light tug reacts more sharply to a glider out of position, so holding tow position is critical.

1. Aerotow behind a light Ecolight tug: An ASK 21 took an aerotow behind a light Ecolight towplane, flown by a glider pilot with little recent practice and used to a far more powerful tug.
2. Glider drifts out of tow position: Reading and radioing the airspeed, the glider pilot lost sight of the tug and let the glider climb too high.
3. Tug pitched violently nose-down: The glider, now above the tug, pitched the towplane's nose sharply down toward the ground.
4. Tug near vertical, hits treetops: The tug went almost vertically nose-down; the glider released, and the tug clipped treetops as it recovered.
5. Both land; tug badly damaged: The tug flew on and both aircraft landed safely; the towplane was badly damaged, the glider unharmed. No one was injured.