Schleicher ASW-27 accident near Athens, Tennessee, May 7, 2011
On May 7, 2011 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Schleicher ASW-27 (glider), registered N27LX, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Athens, Tennessee. It was an air show or air race flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate visual lookout resulting in a collision with power lines while making an off-airport landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 7, 2011 · about 7:15 pm local time · cases in 2011
- Place
- Athens, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schleicher ASW-27 · all ASW-27s on the register
- Registration
- N27LX · registry record · serial 27074
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Air show or air race flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While participating in a soaring competition, the pilot of the glider realized that a layer of high cirrus clouds had moved into the area and had stopped the heating of the ground by the sun. The thermal activity began to get progressively weaker and the pilot began to look for a place to make an off-airport landing. He observed a mowed hay field, did not see any obstructions, and chose it for his landing site. After turning on final approach with the wing flaps and spoilers extended, the glider struck two electrical transmission lines that were running diagonally across the glidepath, about 15 feet above ground level. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wing during the impact with the wires.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of lift during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during enroute (descent)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Thermal lifting › Not specified
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Contributed to outcome
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,871 hours in all; 1,111 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 2,771 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 25, 2010
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,309 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, April 10, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 1,102 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: 92A Benton TN at 4:45 pm
- Destination: 2A0 Dayton TN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from TYS, 38 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on June 17, 2011. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Weather Reports and Records | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Three View Drawing | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photographs of Aircraft Damage as Provided by FAA (Contains 5 Photographs) | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N27LX on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Schleicher ASW-27 90 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Schleicher 506 aircraft on the register
- Chilhowee · departed from
- Mark Anton Airport · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Tennessee 1,198 since 1982 · 231 in the last ten years
- Tennessee 6,536 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA11CA288.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.