# Accident 20010721017279A: Schler ASW20C, Etowah, TN, July 21, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 21, 2001, 13:25 local time
- Place: Etowah, TN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.3297° N, 84.5208° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3297&lon=-84.5208&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9HK (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: SCHLER ASW20C
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 709 total, 319 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL01LA090](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL01LA090) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010721017279A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) THE PILOT DEPARTED ON TOW FROM THE CHILHOWEE GLIDERPORT (REISMAN FIELD) IN A LOCAL CONTEST AT APPROXIMATELY 1425 ON SATURDAY, JULY 21, 2001. HE FLEW AROUND THE GLIDERPORT JUDGING THE LIFT CONDITIONS UNTIAL APPROXIMATELY 1520.  AT THAT TIME HE LEFT THE 3 SM GPS START CYLINDER FOR THE FIRST TURNPOINT (LOOKOUT TOWER) ABOUT 12 MILES NORTH OF CHILHOWEE AND ON THE RIDGE ABOUT 5 MILES EAST OF ETOWAH, TN.  AFTER TURNING AROUND THE TURNPOINT AT APPROXIMATELY 2346 FT. MSL, PROCEEDED BACK TO CHILHOWEE GP.  AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND IN LIGHT BUT STEDY SINK, THE PILOT MOVED OUT OVER THE VALLEY LOOKING FOR USABLE LIFT, BUT CONTINUED TO GRADUALLY SINK.  THE PILOT WENT TO MINIMUM SINK SPEED IN SEARCH MODE.  AT THAT POINT HE DECIDED ON ONE OF ABOUT THREE POSSIBLE LANDING FIELDS AT AROUND 2300 FT. MSL.  A COUPLE OF HUNDRED FEET LOWER HE SELECTED HIS FINAL CHOICE FIELD STILL LOOKING AND WORKING ANY LIFT AVAILABLE.                                                            (.4) ON JULY 21, 2001, AT 1325 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A SCHLEICHER ASW-20C GLIDER, N9HK, REGISTERED TO A PRIVATE OWNER, COLLIDED WITH A STATIC WIRE AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE GROUND DURING A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD IN ETOWAH, TEN NESSEE. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS OPERATED BY THE COMMERCIAL PILOT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CFR PART 91. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED, AND THE GLIDER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE GLIDER DEPARTED CHILHOWEE GLIDER PORT IN BENTON, TENNESSEE, AT 1230. AFTER DEPARTING ON TOW, THE PILOT FLEW AROUND THE AREA FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. WHILE RETURNING TO THE GLIDER PORT AT 2,350 FEET MSL, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED A LIGHT BUT STEADY SINK. AFTER FIVE MINUTES OF SEARCHING FOR USABLE LIFT, THE SINK CONTINUED, AND THE PILOT MANEUVERED THE GLIDER AT MINIMUM SINK SPEED AND SEARCHED FOR A FIELD FOR LANDING. DURING DESCENT OVER A HOUSE AND POWER LINES, THE GLIDER SANK INTO THE POWER LINES. THE GLIDER'S RIGHT WING STRUCK A WIRE, AND THE GLIDER SUBSEQUENTLY NOSED INTO THE GROUND. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED DAMAGE TO THE NOSE, AND THE TAIL WAS SEPARATED. THE PILOT DID NOT REPORT A MECHANICAL PROBLEM WITH THE GLIDER.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ATL01LA090](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL01LA090), Jul 21, 2001: Schleicher ASW-20C (N9HK), Etowah, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of thermal lift which resulted in a forced landing and subsequent in-flight collision with static wires.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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