Schleicher ASW-20C accident near Etowah, Tennessee, July 21, 2001
On July 21, 2001 at about 6:25 pm local time, a Schleicher ASW-20C (glider), registered N9HK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Etowah, Tennessee (Chilhowee Gliderport airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of thermal lift which resulted in a forced landing and subsequent in-flight collision with static wires.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 21, 2001 · about 6:25 pm local time
- Place
- Etowah, Tennessee · Chilhowee Gliderport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schleicher ASW-20C · all ASW-20Cs on the register
- Registration
- N9HK · registry record · serial 20631
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, while returning to Chilhowee Glider Port and thermal lifting was lost. The glider collided with a power line as the pilot maneuvered for an emergency landing. No mechanical problems with the glider were reported by the pilot.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 709 hours in all; 319 in this make and model; 709 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 22, 2000
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 5, 2001
- Maximum gross weight: 1,001 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 92A Benton TN at 5:30 pm
- Destination: 92A Benton TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 030, 2,600 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from CHA, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL01LA090.