# NTSB ERA11CA288: Schleicher ASW-27, N27LX, Athens, TN, May 7, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 7, 2011, 15:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Athens, TN - Coordinates: 35.397777, -84.756385 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3978&lon=-84.7564&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report August 22, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 79055 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA288 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/79055/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=79055 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA288 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate visual lookout resulting in a collision with power lines while making an off-airport landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Temp/humidity/pressure: thermal lifting](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified; cases with it: [All aircraft, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md) - [Enroute-descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis While participating in a soaring competition, the pilot of the glider realized that a layer of high cirrus clouds had moved into the area and had stopped the heating of the ground by the sun. The thermal activity began to get progressively weaker and the pilot began to look for a place to make an off-airport landing. He observed a mowed hay field, did not see any obstructions, and chose it for his landing site. After turning on final approach with the wing flaps and spoilers extended, the glider struck two electrical transmission lines that were running diagonally across the glidepath, about 15 feet above ground level. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wing during the impact with the wires. ## Factual narrative While participating in a soaring competition, the pilot of the glider realized that a layer of high cirrus clouds had moved into the area and had stopped the heating of the ground by the sun. The thermal activity began to get progressively weaker and the pilot began to look for a place to make an off airport landing. He observed a mowed hay field and did not see any obstructions and chose it for his landing site. After turning on final approach with the wing flaps and spoilers extended, the glider struck two electrical transmission lines that were running diagonally across the glide path, about 15 feet above ground level. During the encounter with the transmission lines, the transmission lines cut into the wing root and landing gear door, broke the main pivot point for the landing gear, broke the canopy, cracked the seat pan, and cracked the aft fuselage approximately halfway back between the trailing edge of the wing and the vertical stabilizer. ## Aircraft - Registration: N27LX (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: SCHLEICHER ASW-27 - Category: Glider - Serial number: 27074 - Airframe hours: 1309 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Air race/show, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 10, 2011 - Departed: 92A, Benton, TN - Destination: 2A0, Dayton, TN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: minor; commercial; last flight review October 25, 2010; seat: single; flight hours: 2,871 total, 1,111 in this make and model, 2,771 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: TYS, 38 nm away ## 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 20110507007879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110507007879A), May 7, 2011: Schleicher ASW-27, Athens, TN, Substantial damage. Pilot was competing in cross country air racing when lift was lost. Pilot picked beautiful wheat field. Upon nearing final touch down, hit powerlines crossing… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 17, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=79055. 2.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 749 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349008&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 153 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349009&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 3, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349010&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Three View Drawing (item 4, .PDF, 16 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349011&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Three%20View%20Drawing-Master.PDF - Photographs of Aircraft Damage as Provided by FAA (Contains 5 Photographs) (item 5, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349013&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photographs%20of%20Aircraft%20Damage%20as%20Provided%20by%20FAA%20(Contains%205%20Photographs)-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.