Date: 201604
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Weather elements / visibility: 20
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Operator: FBO
Operating under: Part 91
Mission: Utility / Infrastructure
Flight phase: Climb
Airspace: Class E ZZZ
ATC / advisory: CTAF ZZZ
Second aircraft: Sail Plane
Reporter organization: Personal
Reporter function: Single Pilot
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Commercial
Human factors: Distraction; Situational Awareness; Workload
Anomaly: Conflict NMAC
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Contributing factors: Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors; Procedure; Aircraft
Primary problem: Environment - Non Weather Related

Narrative: This report describe a near-miss which occurred between a low wing aircraft (reporting aircraft) and single engine high wing aircraft. The near-miss occurred while the tow pilot was engaged in towing a two-place glider. This is a routine operation conducted at this airport. The low wing tow plane and glider departed runway 30 and had maneuvered to a westerly course of approximately 260 (MH). Approximately five minutes after departure at an altitude of 2600 feet the tow pilot observed the belly of single engine aircraft passing close (around 100 feet) overhead. The high wing aircraft was traveling on an intersecting south easterly course of approximately 150 (MH). The aircraft appeared and disappeared from the view of the tow pilot in about 1 second. No visual contact was made beforehand. The instructor pilot in the glider which was being towed behind witnessed the near-miss and reported that the high wing pulled-up to avoid a collision. The glider pilot did not see the other aircraft early enough to alert the pilot of the tow plane. CAVU meteorological conditions existed at the time of near-miss (visibility > 20 miles / ceiling > 10;000 feet).Contributory Factors:1) The activity of towing gliders which involves two aircraft maneuvering in close proximity to one another requires concentration which distracts both the tow pilot and the glider pilot from other piloting responsibilities such as seeing and avoiding other aircraft.2) The low wing tow aircraft is flown in an abnormally nose-high attitude while towing gliders. This attitude limits the visibility of the tow pilot. To mitigate this problem; towing is conducted with flaps partially extended and gentle s-turns are executed during the tow.3) Towing gliders severely limits the ability of the tow plane to maneuver to avoid other aircraft.4) The glider was equipped with the FLARM collision avoidance system but it was not turned on. FLARM would have alerted the glider pilot of an aircraft in close proximity and he could have alerted the tow pilot by radio.Local gliders are proposing to establish a policy to monitor FLARM during tows as a result of this incident. We may also equip tow planes with some type of collision avoidance system (FLARM or ADS-B) as a result of this incident.




Synopsis: The pilot of a low wing aircraft towing a glider reported a near miss with a high wing aircraft at 2;600 feet. The glider pilot detected the traffic visually but was unable to quickly alert the tow pilot. The glider's FLARM collision avoidance system was also OFF.