Schleicher ASW 27 N27BZ

Summary

On 4 September 2016 at about 17:45 local time, a Schleicher ASW 27 registered N27BZ, operated by Mittell Aviation LLC, was involved in an accident near Benton, Tennessee, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 September 2016 at 17:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Benton, Tennessee, United States

Nearest airport

Chilhowee (92A)

Coordinates

35.1158, -84.3550

Aircraft

Schleicher ASW 27

Registration

N27BZ

Category

Glider

Year built

1995

Operator

Mittell Aviation LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Benton → Benton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA16CA479

Nobody was injured.

The glider pilot's descent below the glidepath and the subsequent hard, off-airport landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot of the glider, he released from the tow airplane at 2,000 feet above ground level and turned to the south toward a ridge in search of orographic lift. The pilot reported that he found "weak lift" in the vicinity of the ridge and when he reached the south end of the ridge, he turned back to the departure airport because he could not maintain altitude. The pilot recalled that while in route back to the airport, he encountered sink, descended below the glide path to the airport and initiated an off airport landing to a large field. The pilot reported that during approach, he over flew a set of powerlines that were perpendicular to his glide path and noticed a second set of powerlines ahead that were also perpendicular to his glide path. The pilot recalled that he turned to avoid the powerlines, encountered more sink, leveled the wings and landed hard in the field. The glider sustained substantial damage to the tailboom. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operations.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.