# Accident 20020928032299A: Schler KA8B, Tullahoma, TN, September 28, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 28, 2002, 11:30 local time
- Place: Tullahoma, TN
- Airport: Tullahoma Regional Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.3817° N, 86.2467° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3817&lon=-86.2467&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8747, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8747) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schempp-Hirth KA8B (registry code 38019VL, https://openairdocs.org/model/schempp-hirth-ka8b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHLER KA8B
- Pilot certificates: Student
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL02LA177](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA177) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020928032299A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2002, AT 1130 CDT, AT TULLAHOMA-HIGHLAND RIM REGIONAL AIRPORT, STUDENT PILOT DAVID A. BALL PILOTED N8747 ON HIS 17TH SOLO FLIGHT. HE STATED THAT HE UNDERESTIMATED THE STRENGTH OF THE WIND IN THE PATTERN, CAME IN TOO LOW ON FINAL APPROACH AND STRUCK A SMALL TREE. THE WIND WAS ESTIMATED AT 360 DEGREES AT 6 KTS GUSTING TO 10 KTS. (.19) ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2002, AT 1300 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A SCHEMPP-HIRTH, KA8B GLIDER, N8747, REGISTERED TO UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE SPACE INSTITUTE, AND OPERATED BY A STUDENT PILOT, COLLIDED WITH TREES SHORT OF RUNWAY 6 DURING AN APPROACH TO LAND AT TULLAHOMA-HIGHLAND RIM REGIONAL AIRPORT, IN TULLAHOMA, TENNESSEE. THE INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT OPERATED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 WITH NO FLIGHT PLAN FILED. VISUAL WEATHER CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE GLIDER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE STUDENT PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED TULLAHOMA, TENNESSEE, AT AN UNDETERMINED TIME. ACCORDING TO THE STUDENT PILOT, HE WAS ON HIS 17TH SOLO FLIGHT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE STUDENT PILOT SAID HE WAS LOW ON FINAL APPROACH TO LAND ON RUNWAY 6 SOD AREA. THE GLIDER COLLIDE                       D WITH A STAND OF TREES SHORT OF THE SOD RUNWAY.

## 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 ATL02LA177](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA177), Sep 28, 2002: Schempp-Hirth KA8B (N8747), Tullahoma, TN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot misjudged the airspeed and altitude during a visual approach to land that resulted in the in-flight collision with the trees.

## Other reports on N8747 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20020608014569I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020608014569I), Jun 8, 2002: Schler KA8B (N8747), Tullahoma, TN, Minor damage. (-23) On 06-08-02, student pilot michael f. kirsch, while on his third solo flight in an KAB8 glider, N8747, landed hard in the grassy area short of pavement…

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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