Brasov IS-28B2 | N8217W

The DTSB determines the Probable Cause of this accident to “not” be Pilot Error, in that the glider pilot made a normal landing, with reasonable expectation that no one would step in front of his aircraft during the landing. The person that was killed was a photographer, and was a friend of the student receiving glider flight instruction at the time. There was not a way to go around, as the glider had no thrust, and there was not a way to know that the photographer would step into the landing path at the last moment, likely trying to obtain a better photograph of his friend. While this accident is labeled as “Suicide” – it is only used in this instance to categorize the accident as being the fault of the victim, and not any other pilot or mechanical fault. It is highly unlikely that it was the intent of the victim to lose his life at the time.

Probable Cause issued 8/11/2026 – 27 months after the accident: The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The photographer’s failure to remain clear of an active taxiway.

The DTSB recommends that all pilots of all aircraft rehearse and condition themselves to conduct thorough briefings between their passengers, and any ground based observers, including photographers in special events such as this one.