I.C.A. Brasov IS-29D2 accident near Reno, Nevada, June 7, 1983
On June 7, 1983 at about 10:15 pm local time, a I.C.A. Brasov IS-29D2 (glider), registered N46045, was substantially damaged in an accident near Reno, Nevada (Stead 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 1983 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Reno, Nevada · Stead
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- I.C.A. Brasov IS-29D2
- Registration
- N46045 · registry record · serial 82
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PLT, HE RECEIVED AN AERIAL TOW TO 2500 FT AGL, AND AFTER RELEASING, THE GLIDER ENCOUNTERED SINKING WX CONDITIONS. HE PROCEEDED BACK TO THE ARPT. AFTER ENTERING A DOWNWIND FOR LANDING, THE GLIDER REPORTEDLY ENCOUNTERED AN AREA OF EXTREME SINK. THE PLT FLEW AN ABBREVIATED PATTERN. DURING A 180 DEG TURN FROM DOWNWIND TO FINAL APCH, THE GLIDER STALLED & STARTED TO SPIN. THE PLT INITIATED CORRECTIVE ACTION, BUT THE GLIDER IMPACTED ON A GRASS STRIP BESIDE THE RWY BEFORE A FULL RECOVERY WAS MADE. THIS WAS THE PLT'S 1ST FLT IN THIS TYPE OF GLIDER.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 34 hours in all; 8 in the last 90 days; 24 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 9, 1982; 59 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 794 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:20 pm from RNO, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.