N8578L

On June 17, 2000, about 1430 hours Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-25-260, N8578L, collided with a fence during a sailplane tow takeoff from a dirt field near Coleville, California. The airplane, operated by Soar Minden under 14 CFR Part 91, sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight and a company flight plan was filed. The flight originated from the Minden-Tahoe Airport, Minden, Nevada, about 1400, and landed in the field, about 5,300 feet mean sea level (msl), to recover a sailplane after it had made a precautionary landing in the field.

The pilot reported that the sailplane pilot had lost lift and decided to make a precautionary landing, and contacted his company for assistance in towing the glider out of the field. After landing the tow plane in the open field, both pilots paced off about 15/1,600 feet, which he estimated would be sufficient for takeoff at 5,300 feet msl. The density altitude was calculated to be about 7,903 feet msl. During the takeoff climb the tow plane collided with a fence.

The sailplane released, overflew the tow plane by 2 to 4 feet, and collided with another fence across the road from the tow plane.