Schleicher ASK-21 accident near Eagleville, Tennessee, April 17, 1987
On April 17, 1987 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Schleicher ASK-21 (glider), registered N174KS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eagleville, Tennessee (Eagleville airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 17, 1987 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Eagleville, Tennessee · Eagleville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schleicher ASK-21 · all ASK-21s on the register
- Registration
- N174KS · no longer on the register · serial 21194
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LANDING ATTEMPT, N174KS COLLIDED WITH A TREELINE ON FINAL APPROACH TO THE AIRPORT. THE INSTRUCTOR REPORTED THAT THE FLIGHT WAS NORMAL UNTIL THE STUDENT ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT ON FINAL APPROACH. THE INSTRUCTOR TOOK CONTROL OF THE CONTROLS, BUT WAS UNABLE REGAIN THE LOST ALTITUDE AND AIRSPEED. THE GLIDER COLLIDED WITH A TREE STALLED AND CRASHED. THE INSTRUCTOR DID NOT REPORT ANY GLIDER CONTROL OR SYSTEM PROBLEMS.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: glider; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 536 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 536 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 2,200 ft by 18 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.