Rolladen-Schneider LS8-18 accident near Incline Village, Nevada, July 6, 2002
On July 6, 2002 at about 1:00 am local time, a Rolladen-Schneider LS8-18 (glider), an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N818JF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Incline Village, Nevada. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning and failure to maintain an adequate clearance from terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 2002 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Incline Village, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rolladen-Schneider LS8-18, amateur-built · all LS8-18s on the register
- Registration
- N818JF · registry record · serial 8385
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: glider; rotorcraft: glider
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,212 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TRK Truckee CA at 9:00 pm
- Destination: NV
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from TVL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 LAX02LA215.