Schleicher ASK-21 accident near Memphis, Tennessee, September 7, 1990
On September 7, 1990 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Schleicher ASK-21 (glider), registered N21SX, was substantially damaged in an accident near Memphis, Tennessee. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH A TREE DUE TO MISJUDGING HIS GLIDEPATH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 7, 1990 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Memphis, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schleicher ASK-21 · all ASK-21s on the register
- Registration
- N21SX · registry record · serial 21278
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE GLIDER PILOT HAD FLOWN FOR ABOUT 1.5 HOURS AND WAS HEADING BACK TO THE AIRSTRIP FOR LANDING. HE DID NOT MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO REACH THE AIRSTRIP, SO HE ELECTED TO LAND THE GLIDER IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE LEFT WING COLLIDED WITH A TREE ADJACENT TO THE FIELD, AND THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE GLIDER. THE GLIDER CRASHED ONTO THE FIELD IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. HE REPORTED NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE GLIDER.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 3,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 17, 1990; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
- Operator: Memphis Soaring Society, INC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 pm from MEM, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.