What happened
At an altitude of roughly 16,000 feet, a Hawker jet and a glider collided in the airspace approximately 42 nautical miles south-southeast of Reno/Tahally International Airport. At the time of the impact, the weather conditions provided visual meteorological visibility. The Hawker was on a stable descent toward its destination, while the glider was performing a spiraling climb with a 30-degree left bank.
Both the crew of the Hawker and the pilot of the glider reported seeing the other aircraft for less than one second prior to the impact, leaving no time for evasive maneuvers. The collision caused significant damage to the Hawker, disabling one engine and several other onboard systems, though the flight crew successfully managed to land the aircraft. The glider became uncontrollable following the impact; the pilot was forced to bail out and successfully used a parachute to reach the ground.
Findings
Investigations highlighted several factors that undermined the effectiveness of the see-and-avoid principle. The high closure rate between the two aircraft significantly reduced the window of time available for both parties to detect the other. Additionally, the slender profile of the glider made it difficult for the Hawker crew to spot. While the flight crew reported maintaining outward vigilance, the captain observed the glider only moments before the collision, and the first officer did not see the glider at all. The lack of radar tracking for the glider's flight path also prevented a precise determination of the visual contact timeline.