I.C.A.-Brasov (Romania) IS-28B2 accident near Scotts Fork, Virginia, May 12, 2026
On May 12, 2026 at about 4:45 pm local time, a 1992 I.C.A.-Brasov (Romania) IS-28B2 (glider), registered N8217W, suffered minor damage in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Scotts Fork, Virginia (Merlin Aerodrome airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The photographer’s failure to remain clear of an active taxiway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 12, 2026 · about 4:45 pm local time · cases in 2026
- Place
- Scotts Fork, Virginia · Merlin Aerodrome · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- I.C.A.-Brasov (Romania) IS-28B2, built 1992 · all IS-28B2s on the register
- Registration
- N8217W · registry record · serial 357
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to give an experience ride to a friend of the photographer on the ground. Prior to the flight, the pilot informed the photographer of the runway they would be landing on and that they would roll off onto the south taxiway before concluding the flight in front of the main hanger. As briefed, the glider touched down and rolled onto the taxiway. The pilot saw the photographer taking pictures just before the glider’s wing contacted him at the midspan of the left wing. The glider rotated 90° to the left before coming to rest. The photographer sustained fatal injuries as a result of the accident. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the glider prior to the accident.
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
What happened, in order
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Person › Awareness of condition
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: instructor: glider; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 3,293 hours in all; 327 in this make and model; 63 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days; 2,631 as pilot in command; 564 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 26, 2025
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,293.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 30, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 1,308 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 3,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 28,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 1:00 pm from BKT, 15 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KBKT 121655Z AUTO 25004KT 10SM FEW280 FEW350 20/06 A3021 RMK AO2 SLP233 T02040056
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on August 11, 2026. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Soaring Association President Interview | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N8217W on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- I.C.A.-Brasov (Romania) IS-28 22 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- I.C.A.-Brasov (Romania) 24 aircraft on the register
- Merlin Aerodrome · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Virginia 1,361 since 1982 · 228 in the last ten years
- Virginia 5,972 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA26LA207.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.