Schleicher ASK-21 accident near Eagleville, Tennessee, August 26, 2001
On August 26, 2001 at about 10:20 pm local time, a Schleicher ASK-21 (glider), registered N121FL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eagleville, Tennessee. It was an instructional 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
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.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 26, 2001 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- Eagleville, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schleicher ASK-21 · all ASK-21s on the register
- Registration
- N121FL · registry record · serial 21267
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 7,624 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 58 in the last 30 days; 2,166 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 15, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,445 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 31, 2000; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 50M Eagleville TN at 9:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from BNA
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.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.