On February 6, 2010, at 1327 mountain standard time, N825BC, a Cirrus Design Corporation SR20 airplane, collided with N8718L, a Piper PA-25-235 airplane, while the Piper was conducting glider tow operations with N2472W, a Schweizer SGS 2-32 glider, near Boulder, Colorado. Mile High Gliding Inc was operating 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 Title 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 Piper and Schweizer departed Boulder Municipal Airport (KBDU), Boulder, Colorado, as a glider tow flight approximately 1315. The Cirrus departed Erie Municipal Airport (KEIK), Erie, Colorado, as a local flight approximately 1245.
According to a statement taken from the pilot of the Schweizer, the Piper and the Schweizer were in a climb attitude, on an approximate heading of west. The Cirrus was heading south. The pilot of the Schweizer observed the Cirrus on a perceived impact collision course with the towline and released the towline connection between the Schweizer and the Piper. The Cirrus impacted the Piper, shortly thereafter. The Schweizer flew through a ball of fire; however, the pilot was able to return to KBDU shortly thereafter. The glider was not damaged during the sequence of events.
Multiple witnesses heard the collision between the two airplanes and observed the post collision state of both airplanes. The Cirrus airplane was observed to descend under the canopy of the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) while on fire. Debris from both airplanes was spread over a 1.5-mile area with components of the Piper at the north most end of the debris field and the main wreckage of the Cirrus at the southern most end of the debris field. Both airplanes were destroyed.