Rolladen-Schneider LS8-18 accident near Incline Village, NV
On July 6, 2002, a Rolladen-Schneider LS8-18 (glider) was involved in an accident near Incline Village, NV. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- July 6, 2002
- Place
- Incline Village, NV
- Aircraft
- Rolladen-Schneider LS8-18 · Glider
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 39.217°N, 119.833°W
- NTSB ID
- 20020712X01108
Official records · LAX02LA215
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
On July 5, 2002, about 1800 Pacific daylight time, a Rolladen-Schneider glider model LS8-18, N818JF, collided with mountainous terrain about 10 miles southeast of Incline Village, Nevada. The pilot/owner was operating the glider under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The airline transport rated pilot, the sole occupant, received fatal injuries; the glider sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. The local personal flight originated near Truckee, California, about 1400, after being released from an airplane tow. A witness reported in a written statement, that while driving, he observed a glider about 1 mile to the west of his location maneuvering about 25 to 50 feet above the treetops. About 1745, the glider appeared to be northeast of Spooner Lake. He recognized the glider's maneuvers to consist of 360-degree turns and figure eight configurations to the left. The glider encountered a thermal and quickly gained altitude, climbing to about 75 feet above ground level. Shortly thereafter, it began to lose altitude and while descending, began to level out. About 1750 to 1800, the witness saw the glider wing over to the left and then he lost visual contact with it. In a written statement, a glider pilot and friend of the accident pilot reported that he had flown with the pilot the day of the accident. About 1400, 25 miles north of Reno, he made contact with the pilot via the radio, and they agreed to move in a southerly direction with the intention to rendezvous later in the flight. After encountering challen
Probable cause
the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning and failure to maintain an adequate clearance from terrain.
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Browse: Nevada
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
