Rolladen-Schneider LS8-18 accident near Circleville, West Virginia, April 16, 2007
On April 16, 2007 at about 12:46 pm local time, a Rolladen-Schneider LS8-18 (glider), registered CGFPQ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Circleville, West Virginia. It was an air show or air race flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The glider's inadvertent encounter with mechanical turbulence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 16, 2007 · about 12:46 pm local time
- Place
- Circleville, West Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rolladen-Schneider LS8-18 · all LS8-18s on the register
- Registration
- CGFPQ · no longer on the register · serial 8293
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Air show or air race flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was attempting a ridge-soaring world glider record flight. Two weeks earlier, he completed a similar flight utilizing the same Appalachian ridge lift conditions. The pilot stated that he had prepared "extensively" for the flight, and had consistently monitored the weather conditions during the previous 2 weeks. The pilot also noted that he was very familiar with the ridge, having flown more than 500 hours over it, including a first place finish at a previous year's competition. The pilot characterized the flight, until the accident, as "uneventful," with "good" visibility and winds "favorable for ridge lift." The pilot did not have to make any 360-degree turns during the flight. He was "cruising on course" when he encountered mechanical turbulence near the "spine" of a mountain, which drove the glider down and into the side of a ridge. The pilot and glider were located the following day. There were no mechanical anomalies noted with the 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: 2,980 hours in all; 1,126 in this make and model
- Last flight review: August 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 787 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 1,154 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine:; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IPT Williamsport PA at 11:00 am
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 17 knots, gusting 31
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,400 ft; a few clouds at 1,900 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.59 inHg
- Observation at 1:51 pm from EKN, 20 miles away
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 NYC07LA095.