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).
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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 October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 12, 2026 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Scotts Fork, Virginia · Merlin Aerodrome · 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA26LA207.