# Accident 20260512004269A: I.C.A.-Brasov (Romania) IS-28B2, Amelia Courthou, VA, May 12, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 12, 2026, 12:45 local time
- Place: Amelia Courthou, VA
- Airport: Merlin Aerodrome
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.3168° N, 77.8666° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3168&lon=-77.8666&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8217W, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8217W) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: I.C.A.-Brasov IS-28B2 (registry code 4490102, https://openairdocs.org/model/i-c-a-brasov-is-28b2) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: I.C.A.-BRASOV (ROMANIA) IS-28B2
- Reported engine: NONE NONE
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 3,243 total, 327 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA26LA207](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA207) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260512004269A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON MAY 12, 2026, ABOUT 12:45 (EDT), AN I.C.A. BRASOV, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ GLIDER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON THE GROUND. THE GLIDER TOUCHED DOWN ON RUNWAY 32 AT MERLIN AERODROME AND PROCCEDED TO THE TAXIWAY ON LANDING ROLLOUT WHEN IT STRUCK A BYSTANDER TAKING PICTURES. THE GLIDER WAS ON AN EXPERIENCE FLIGHT WITH TWO PEOPLE ON BOARD. THE GLIDER STRUCK THE BYSTANDER WITH THE LEFT WING; HE SUSTAINED CRITICAL INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE NEARBY HOSPITAL WHERE HE DIED 29 DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT AND PASSINGER WERE NOT INJURED. THE BYSTANDER'S LOCATION WAS ON THE UNMARKED TAXIWAY IN FRONT OF THE HANGAR. THE AIRCRAFT SUBSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE LEADING EDGE OF THE LEFT WING APPROXIMATELY MIDWAY DOWN THE WING, NO OTHER DAMAGE WAS NOTED. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE LOCAL WEATHER WAS VFR AND CLEAR.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA26LA207](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA207), May 12, 2026: I.C.A.-Brasov IS-28B2 (N8217W), Scotts Fork, VA, minor damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The photographer’s failure to remain clear of an active taxiway.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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