Rolladen-Schneider LS8 accident near Pine Grove, Pennsylvania, March 21, 2016
On March 21, 2016 at about 3:20 pm local time, a 2000 Rolladen-Schneider LS8 (glider), registered N16BP, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Pine Grove, Pennsylvania. It was a personal 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inability to maintain the glider's descent rate and glide path after encountering a downdraft, resulting in a collision with trees during an off airport landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 21, 2016 · about 3:20 pm local time
- Place
- Pine Grove, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rolladen-Schneider LS8 18, built 2000 · all LS8s on the register
- Registration
- N16BP · registry record · serial 8334
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot of the glider, while performing a cross country flight along a mountain ridge, the pilot could no longer maintain altitude as a result of unfavorable wind conditions. The pilot reported that he elected to execute an off airport landing. He recounted that he selected a suitable landing area, and executed a normal traffic pattern. However, he reported that he encountered a strong downdraft and the glider impacted trees that bordered the selected landing area. The glider sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies with the glider prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal flight operation.
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
- Other weather encounter during maneuvering
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Miscellaneous/other defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Attain/maintain not possible
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Downdraft › Ability to respond/compensate
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 917 hours in all; 468 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 806 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 7, 2015
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,048.5 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, June 9, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 1,157 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
The flight
- Departed from: 1N7 Blairstown NJ at 1:40 pm
- Destination: 1N7 Blairstown NJ
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 14 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 3:18 pm from KMUI, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 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.
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 GAA16CA156.