Pilot Found Dead in Woods After Planes Collide Midair

A peaceful afternoon of soaring over Upstate New York turned deadly when two gliders collided in midair, killing one pilot and sending authorities scrambling into a remote wooded area.

The crash happened around 2:26 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, near Wheeler Road in Edinburg, a small Saratoga County town near Great Sacandaga Lake, according to New York State Police.

Investigators said the two gliders struck each other while airborne, but one pilot was somehow able to guide the damaged aircraft back to nearby Plateau Sky Ranch Airport.

That pilot landed safely and was not injured.

The second glider disappeared into a heavily wooded section of the area, triggering a major search involving State Police Aviation, New York State Forest Rangers, the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office and local fire departments.

At approximately 4:54 p.m. — more than two hours after the collision — crews spotted debris off Sand Lake Road.

Searchers eventually reached the wreckage and found the pilot dead at the scene. Police said the victim was the only person aboard the aircraft.

The pilot’s identity had not been publicly released as of Saturday afternoon while authorities worked to complete family notifications.

Local airport owner Elayne Wade told the Times Union that the surviving glider had damage to its front end and that its pilot was shaken but physically OK.

In an extraordinary twist, the surviving pilot later reportedly returned to the air with Wade’s husband to help search for the missing glider.

There is also an important correction to early reporting about the aircraft involved.

While some reports described both gliders as Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2Bs, the National Transportation Safety Board identified the aircraft as two different models — a Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2B and a Schleicher ASW 24.

Both are high-performance sailplanes, aircraft designed to remain aloft primarily by using rising air rather than continuous engine power.

Authorities have not said what caused the two aircraft to converge or whether visibility, flight paths, equipment or another factor played a role.

The NTSB is investigating the collision, and the Federal Aviation Administration has also been notified. Investigators are expected to examine the wreckage, available flight information, weather conditions and other evidence before determining a probable cause.

A preliminary NTSB report could provide the first official outline of what investigators know, but a final determination of probable cause in an aviation investigation can take considerably longer.

State Police are also asking anyone who witnessed the collision to contact investigators at 518-457-6811.