Schreder RS-15 accident near Benton, Tennessee, May 2, 1992
On May 2, 1992 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Schreder RS-15 (glider), an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N17TM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Benton, Tennessee. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S MISJUDGED APPROACH TO THE OPEN FIELD, WHICH RESULTED IN THE FORCED LANDING ON THE OBSTACLE LINED ROAD.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 2, 1992 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Benton, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schreder RS-15, amateur-built
- Registration
- N17TM · no longer on the register · serial 1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ANOTHER GLIDER PILOT, WHO WAS THERMAL SOARING ABOUT 1/2 MILE FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE, OBSERVED THE GLIDER APPROACH A FIELD AT LOW LEVEL. IT CIRCLED THE FIELD IN A WIDE RADIUS TURN, THEN MOVED ABOUT A QUARTER MILE AWAY. IT THEN BEGAN TO CIRCLE IN A TIGHT RADIUS TURN. THE OBSERVING PILOT LOOKED AWAY FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS, AND WHEN HE LOOKED AT THE GLIDER AGAIN, IT WAS IN A STEEP TURN. THE GLIDER ALIGNED WITH A TWO LANE ROAD THEN SWERVED ABRUPTLY LEFT INTO A LINE OF TREES. A GROUND WITNESS SAID THAT THE GLIDER APPEARED TO ATTEMPT A LANDING IN THE FIELD. THE PILOT OVERRAN THE FIELD & A GO-AROUND WAS MADE BECAUSE OF OBSTACLES. THE LANDING WAS ABORTED BY PULLING UP. THE GLIDER NEARLY STALLED & TURNED TO LAND ON THE ROAD. THE LEFT WING HIT A ROAD SIGN, VEERED LEFT, & STRUCK A TREE. PAINT TRANSFER MARKS WERE FOUND ON THE ROAD WHICH CORRELATED WITH SCRAPES ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE GLIDER'S FUSELAGE. EXAMINATION OF THE GLIDER, AFTER THE ACCIDENT, DID NOT REVEAL ANY FLIGHT CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 438 hours in all; 130 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 603 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, March 4, 1992
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 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.
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.