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 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).
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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 October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 7, 2011 · about 7:15 pm local time
- 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
- 402500 during 402
- 404440 during 404
- 550470 during descent
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
- Ratings: none, none, none, 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
- 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
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
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: scattered at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°C, dew point 46°C
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from TYS, 38 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA11CA288.