Schleicher ASK-21 N121FL

Summary

On 26 August 2001 at about 22:20 local time, a Schleicher ASK-21 registered N121FL was involved in an accident near Eagleville, Tennessee, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 August 2001 at 22:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Eagleville, Tennessee, United States

Coordinates

35.6894, -86.6150

Aircraft

Schleicher ASK-21

Registration

N121FL

Category

Glider

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Eagleville → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

NTSB number

ATL01LA098

Nobody was injured.

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.