# NTSB ATL01LA098: Schleicher ASK-21, N121FL, Eagleville, TN, August 26, 2001

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 26, 2001, 17:20 local (22:20 UTC)
- Place: Eagleville, TN
- Coordinates: 35.689445, -86.614997
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6894&lon=-86.6150&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 20, 2002
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Nashville FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 53239
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL01LA098
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53239/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL01LA098

## Probable cause

The loss of thermals during the glider flight that resulted in the collision with high vegetation while maneuvering for an emergency landing. A factor was high vegetation.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Miscellaneous/other, cruise
  - weather condition - no thermal lift (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing
  - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that after takeoff he flew to an area of thermal activity. Upon completing several minutes of upper air work, the pilot elected to return to the departure airport. While en route to the departure airport, the pilot realized that he had entered an area where he was unable to maintain altitude and thermal activity was lost. The pilot selected a nearby bean field for an emergency landing. According to the pilot, during the landing roll, the right wing collided with a tall plant and the glider ground looped. Examination of the glider at the accident site revealed structural damage to the fuselage aft section. No mechanical problem was reported by the pilot.

## Factual narrative

On August 26, 2001, at 1720 central daylight time, a Schleicher ASK-21, glider, N121FL, registered to a private owner, collided with high vegetation while maneuvering for an emergency landing near Eagleville, Tennessee. The instructional flight was operated by  Eagleville Sailplane Inc., 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, and the air transport pilot was not injured. The flight departed Pickett Gliderport in Eagleville, Tennessee, at 1635.

The pilot reported that after takeoff he flew to an area of thermal activity. Upon completing several minutes of upper airwork, the pilot elected to return to the departure airport. While en route to the departure airport, the pilot realized that he had entered an area where he was unable to maintain altitude and thermal activity was lost. The pilot selected a nearby bean field for an emergency landing. According to the pilot, during the landing roll, the right wing collided with a tall plant and the glider ground looped.

Examination of the glider at the accident site revealed structural damage to the fuselage aft section. No mechanical problem was reported by the pilot.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N121FL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N121FL), registered now, S/N 21267 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Schleicher ASK-21
- Registry model: [Schleicher ASK-21](https://openairdocs.org/model/schleicher-ask-21) (registry code 38015GY) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Serial number: 21267
- Airframe hours: 1445
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Eagleville Sailplanes Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, August 31, 2000, 30 hours before
- Departed: 50M, Eagleville, TN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review May 15, 2002; seat: center; flight hours: 7,624 total, 14 in this make and model, 2,166 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 58 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC)
- Wind: 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: BNA

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20010826020529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010826020529A), Aug 26, 2001: Schler ASK21, Eagleville, TN, No damage. (-23) During solo flight, loss thermal lift and forced to land in soy bean field, short of airport. Glider received substantial damage on landing.

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.

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