Schleicher Alexander K 7 accident near Benton, Tennessee, April 27, 2014
On April 27, 2014 at about 6:40 pm local time, a 1961 Schleicher Alexander K 7 (glider), registered N1002Z, suffered minor damage in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Benton, Tennessee (Chilhowee Gliderport airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's distraction with traffic on the runway, and his subsequent failure to retract the air brakes prior to touchdown, which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 27, 2014 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Benton, Tennessee · Chilhowee Gliderport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schleicher Alexander K 7, built 1961 · all K 7s on the register
- Registration
- N1002Z · registry record · serial 984
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
In a statement to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the pilot of the glider stated that he was on final approach for landing with the air brakes deployed when he observed another glider on the runway. He raised the nose of his glider to clear the other glider, but did not retract the air brakes, which resulted in a hard landing. The pilot sustained serious injuries. Postaccident examination by an FAA inspector revealed minor damage to the glider's tail skid, and no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Configuration › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Attention › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,212 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 1,068 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Chilhowee Soaring Association, Inc
The flight
- Departed from: 92A Benton TN
- Destination: 92A Benton TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 2,600 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from KCHA, 32 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.