Schleicher K8B accident near Manchester, Michigan, July 1, 2000
On July 1, 2000 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Schleicher K8B (glider), registered N885D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Manchester, Michigan (Rosettie airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the downdraft experienced during final approach and altitude/clearance from the fence post not being maintained by the pilot. A factor to the accident was the fence post.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 2000 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Manchester, Michigan · Rosettie · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schleicher K8B · all K8Bs on the register
- Registration
- N885D · no longer on the register · serial 1401
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on final approach the glider experienced higher than expected sink and the glider impacted a fence-post short of the runway.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 282 hours in all; 42 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 132 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 840 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 75G
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,250 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Wind: from 230° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 178°F (81°C), dew point 131°F (55°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from JXN, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.