Rolladen-Schneider LS8-18 N818JF

Summary

On 6 July 2002 at about 01:00 local time, a Rolladen-Schneider LS8-18 registered N818JF was involved in an accident near Incline Village, Nevada, 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.

Date

6 July 2002 at 01:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Incline Village, Nevada, United States

Coordinates

39.2167, -119.8333

Aircraft

Rolladen-Schneider LS8-18

Registration

N818JF

Category

Glider

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Truckee → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX02LA215

1 person died.

the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning and failure to maintain an adequate clearance from terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The glider collided with mountainous terrain while attempting to gain lift over a ridge. After flying about 3 hours, the pilot was attempting to fly back to the airport where the flight originated. A glider pilot, who had been flying in company with the accident glider earlier in the day, stated that despite strong headwinds, he thought that the accident pilot would have no problems making it to other local airports. He noted that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to continue onto the airport of intended destination. The location of accident site indicated that the pilot was attempting to gain lift by maneuvering in close proximity to a ridgeline. The ground scars and glider damage revealed that the glider impacted a boulder in a slightly nose low pitch attitude, while in a 25-degree bank to the left.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.