Schreder RS-15 N17TM
2 May 1992 · Benton, Tennessee, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 2 May 1992 at about 19:30 local time, a Schreder RS-15 registered N17TM, operated by Smalley, James W., was involved in an accident near Benton, Tennessee, United States. One person was on board and one died. 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 19:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Benton, Tennessee, United States
- Coordinates
- 35.1703, -84.6504
- Aircraft
- Schreder RS-15
- Registration
- N17TM
- Category
- Glider
- Operator
- Smalley, James W.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ATL92LA093
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S MISJUDGED APPROACH TO THE OPEN FIELD, WHICH RESULTED IN THE FORCED LANDING ON THE OBSTACLE LINED ROAD.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
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.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Schreder RS-15 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jul 2002 | Schreder RS-15 | Jackson, Wyoming, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 8 Mar 1982 | Schreder RS-15 | Hempstead, Texas, United States | Ronald J. Scott | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Jan 1992 | Cessna 177B | Memphis, Tennessee, United States | Cleary, Peter J. | Fatal | 1 |
| 12 Jan 1992 | Beechcraft J-35 | Knoxville, Tennessee, United States | Webster, Gordon | No injuries | - |
| 2 Feb 1992 | Cessna 152 | Shelbyville, Tennessee, United States | C & G Aircraft Sales, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 15 Mar 1992 | Beechcraft A36 | Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee, United States | Snyder, Michael C. | Serious injuries | - |
| 29 Mar 1992 | Cessna U206G | Lafayette, Tennessee, United States | Buckner Aviation, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 25 Jul 1992 | Burkhart Grob G103 | Knoxville, Tennessee, United States | Robert L. Davis | Serious injuries | - |