Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On February 6, 2010, at 1327 mountain standard time, a Cirrus SR20 airplane, N825BC, collided with a Piper PA-25-235 airplane, N8718L, while the Piper was conducting glider tow operations with a Schweizer SGS 2-32 glider, N2472W, near Boulder, Colorado. Both the Cirrus and the Piper were substantially damaged. The Schweizer was not damaged. The Cirrus was owned and piloted by a private individual. Mile High Gliding, Inc., operated both the Piper and the Schweizer. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. All three flights were being conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without flight plans. The commercial pilot aboard the Piper and the private pilot and passenger aboard the Cirrus were all fatally injured. The commercial pilot and two passengers aboard the Schweizer were not injured. The Cirrus departed Erie Municipal Airport (KEIK), Erie, Colorado, as a local flight approximately 1245. The Piper and Schweizer departed Boulder Municipal Airport (KBDU), Boulder, Colorado, as a glider tow flight approximately 1320.

According to a statement taken from the pilot of the Schweizer, the purpose of the flight was a scenic glider flight for a birthday party. The tow flight departed runway 8, performed a 360-degree turn for altitude on the east end of the airport, and then continued to a west/northwest heading. He stated that during this portion of the flight he was pointing out various landmarks in Boulder, and other aircraft in the vicinity, to the two passengers.

The pilot of the Schweizer remarked that at 8,000 feet the tow rope was tight, they were climbing at 70 miles per hour, and that the air was smooth. At this approximate time and altitude, he observed a Cirrus airplane off the right side of his glider, less than 500 feet away. He was immediately concerned that the Cirrus was going to fly between the tow plane and the glider, and impact the tow line. He reached for the towline release, at which time the Cirrus impacted the forward right side of the tow plane at nearly a 90 degree angle.

The Schweizer flew through a ball of fire and was able to return to KBDU shortly thereafter. The pilot of the Schweizer and one passenger on board the glider stated that they did not observe either the Piper or the Cirrus maneuver prior to the collision. The pilot of the Schweizer stated that prior to the impact there were no control movements or turbulence induced by control movements of the tow plane. He commented that the flight was extremely smooth and that normally he can feel control movements or inputs from the tow plane. He elaborated that he felt that the tow pilot would have tried to correct or make an evasive maneuver had he seen the Cirrus airplane prior to the impact.

Multiple witnesses heard the collision between the two airplanes and observed the post collision state of both airplanes. The Cirrus was observed to descend under the canopy of the Cirrus Airframe