Aerotow tug distracted by an airliner collides with an ASK 21

A returning aerotow tug and an ASK 21 collided over Dunstable; both were badly damaged but landed safely and no one was hurt. Having dropped its glider and turned downwind, the tug was descending when the pilot's eye was drawn to an airliner approaching Luton; looking back, he found the glider close ahead and just below. With no time to turn, he bunted to pass beneath it, but the tug's fin sliced into the glider's right wing and tore off its own fin and rudder. Neither glider occupant had seen the tug — sun, haze and canopy reflections had hampered every lookout. The rudderless tug landed fast; the glider, its spar intact, flew on to land.

1. Tug and glider near the circuit: A returning aerotow tug and an ASK 21 on a training flight were both manoeuvring near Dunstable's circuit in busy, airspace-constrained conditions, relying on see-and-avoid.
2. Tug pilot's eye drawn to an airliner: Descending downwind to land, the tug pilot's attention was momentarily drawn to an airliner on approach to nearby Luton, off to his left.
3. Glider seen too late, dead ahead: Looking back to the front, the pilot saw the glider directly ahead and slightly below at very close range, with no time to turn away.
4. Tug bunts to pass beneath: The pilot pushed over to take his aircraft and tow cable below the glider, but the two were already too close to clear each other.
5. Neither glider pilot saw the tug: Neither glider occupant had seen the tug; sun, haze and canopy reflections had compromised the lookout from both cockpits.
6. Fin cuts wing; both land: The top of the tug's fin sliced into the glider's right wing and tore off with the rudder; the glider's spar stayed intact, and both aircraft remained controllable and landed, badly damaged but with no injuries.