Incident Overview
A Cessna aircraft was engaged in towing a glider when, at an altitude between 150 and 200 feet, the pilot noted a decrease in engine RPM. In response, the glider was detached from the towline. The pilot then lowered the nose and initiated a left turn while still over the gliderport.
Descent and Landing
Following the turn, the aircraft entered a rapid descent with the wings leveled. The airplane made contact with frozen ground. Upon impact, the right landing gear broke at the fuselage attachment point, causing the right wing to drop as the aircraft skidded along the ground.
Aircraft Damage
The landing gear failure resulted in structural damage to the fuselage and wing contact with the surface. The extent of other damage is not specified.
No Cause Stated
The investigation report does not assign a probable cause for the RPM decrease or the subsequent forced landing.