Schleicher ASK-21 N21SX
7 September 1990 · Memphis, Tennessee, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 7 September 1990 at about 22:15 local time, a Schleicher ASK-21 registered N21SX, operated by Memphis Soaring Society, Inc, was involved in an accident near Memphis, Tennessee, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 22:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Memphis, Tennessee, United States
- Coordinates
- 35.0409, -90.1590
- Aircraft
- Schleicher ASK-21
- Registration
- N21SX
- Category
- Glider
- Operator
- Memphis Soaring Society, Inc
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ATL90LA168
People
2 people were seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
AN INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH A TREE DUE TO MISJUDGING HIS GLIDEPATH.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
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.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Schleicher ASK-21 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Jul 1990 | Schleicher ASK-21 | Plainfield, Illinois, United States | Advanced Soaring Klub, Ltd. | No injuries | - |
| 6 Nov 1988 | Schleicher ASK-21 | Vacaville, California, United States | Vacaville Aero Services Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 17 Apr 1987 | Schleicher ASK-21 | Eagleville, Tennessee, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 7 Mar 1987 | Schleicher ASK-21 | Plainfield, Illinois, United States | Windy Sity Soaring, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 26 Aug 2001 | Schleicher ASK-21 | Eagleville, Tennessee, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 16 Jun 2004 | Schleicher ASK-21 | Warren, Vermont, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Oct 1990 | Olsen-Gordon VERI EZE | Hohenwald, Tennessee, United States | Creel, Rodney J. | Fatal | 1 |
| 1 Nov 1990 | Bell 47J-2 | Gatlinburg, Tennessee, United States | Pigeon Forge Helicopters, Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 8 Dec 1990 | Cessna 150J | Ripley, Tennessee, United States | Shelby Aviation, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 3 Nov 1990 | Bell 412 | Knoxville, Tennessee, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 10 Nov 1990 | Saab-Scania Ab (Saab) 340A | Memphis, Tennessee, United States | Heleasco Twenty Four, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 17 Oct 1990 | E Tn Plts Starduster STARDUSTER II | Knoxville, Tennessee, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |