# NTSB IAD80FKW06: Schweizer 1-26E, N2994H, Benton, TN, January 19, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: January 19, 1980
- Place: Benton, TN · BENTON, TN
- Location: 35.1749° N, 84.6517° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Benton, TN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1749&lon=-84.6517&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 28, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 132237
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD80FKW06
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD80FKW06

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0082  80/1/19    BENTON,TN           SCHWEIZER 1-26E     CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 34, 48 TOTAL
        TIME - 1520                    N2994H              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 2 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CHILHOWEE GLIDER
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BENTON,TN                   LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          NONE                                                     VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- PLT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LOCATE THERMAL ACTIVITY AT A LOW ALTITUDE,ENCOUNTERED DOWNDRAFT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2994H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2994H), registered now, S/N 692, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER 1-26E
- Registry model: [Schweizer SGS 1-26E](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-1-26e) (registry code 8050124) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Glider
- Engines: none
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Chilhowee Glider

## 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 19800119000489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800119000489A), Jan 19, 1980: Scwzer SGS126E, Benton, TN, Substantial damage. Glider stalled and spun into trees on a ridge when glider encountered downdraft at a low altitude.

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.