# NTSB MIA97LA101: Schweizer SGS 1-26E, N33WP, Benton, TN, March 20, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 20, 1997, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Benton, TN
- Coordinates: 35.170814, -84.650833 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1708&lon=-84.6508&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 25, 1997
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38231
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA97LA101
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38231/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA101

## Probable cause

The failure of the pilot to maintain altitude and clearance from the trees on a ridge line.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, maneuvering
  - object - tree(s)
  - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Miscellaneous/other, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

While soaring along a ridge the pilot descended the glider to about 20 feet above the trees. As he made a turn away from the ridge the glider encountered heavy sink and descended. A wing tip caught a tree and the glider spun around and nosed into the trees where it came to rest.

## Factual narrative

On March 20, 1997, about 1430 eastern standard time, a Schweizer SGS 1-26E, N33WP, registered to a private person, crashed while gliding near Benton, Tennessee, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the private-rated pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Benton, Tennessee, the same day, about 1345.

The pilot stated he received a tow to 3,000 feet. After he released, he made passes back and forth along a ridge line for about 40 minutes. The wind on the ridge decreased during this time and he elected to head north back toward the valley and the gliderport. He was about 20 feet above the ridge and as he turned toward the valley he encountered sinking air. The glider descended and the a wing tip caught a tree. The glider spun around and nosed down into the trees. The glider came to rest nose down in the trees, about 20 feet off the ground. The pilot climbed down and was rescued.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N33WP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N33WP-2014-09-29), registration cancelled 2014-09-29, S/N 638, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Schweizer SGS 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
- Serial number: 638
- Airframe hours: 611
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Wendylene, Inc., doing business as Chilhowee Glider Port
- Registered owner: Frank R. Trowbridge III
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 21, 1996, 50 hours before
- Departed: 92A

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; private; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: front; flight hours: 397 total, 95 in this make and model, 360 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CHA, 40 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 19970320010209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970320010209A), Mar 20, 1997: Scwzer SGS126E, Benton, TN, Substantial damage. Thermaling over ridge. Began return to airport got downdraft. Wing hit tree. Descended into trees. (-23) the pilot had been making passes back and forth along…

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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