On 6/1/2012 8:28 AM, Dan Marotta wrote:

Snip...

Later that day, an experienced pilot was flying his first flight in an HP-14.
At 2,400' AGL we were indicating 1,100 fpm climb and said, "This is a nice
thermal" on the radio. Seconds later the tow plane was jerked to the left and
I looked over my right shoulder to see the glider at my 4 o'clock with a large
loop of slack in the rope. I yelled, "Get off, get off, get off!!!" and, to my
surprise, the response was the glider banking sharply into me and diving past
my tail. Before I could grab the tow release, there was another sharp jerk and
the rope broke. The glider pilot then enjoyed about 4 hours in the -14.

Snip...

Mercy!

Tell me again what that in-glider release is for?

My only self-induced rope break came on a BFR, demonstrating
instructor-induced slack rope recoveries. (Due to lack of practice at slack
rope after obtaining my license, I undoubtedly only got worse at it.) So I
understand the desire to recover an out of position towing situation...just
not at risk of life and limb.

On another BFR the instructor bemused both of us as we watched the rope drift
aft over the top of the G-103's wing until I could barely see the aft end of
the loop from the front cockpit. It was one of the times I almost overrode an
instructor's "My ship." In hindsight, we both agreed I probably should have.
What WERE we thinking?!?

Bob W.