Talk about a lucky landing. A pilot parachuted to safety onto the top of a hospital parking garage in downtown Reno, Nevada, on Sunday after an apparent encounter with severe mountain wave turbulence tore both the wings off his German-built Schleicher glider.
Longtime glider enthusiast Bob Spielman was reportedly attempting to return to Minden-Tahoe Airport about 40 miles south of Reno when the strong turbulence snapped the wings from his ASW 27 glider like a toy.
He suffered only minor injuries when he jumped from his stricken aircraft, floating to safety under his parachute onto the parking garage’s upper deck.
One wing was located in a city park about mile from where Spielman set down while the main fuselage of the glider crashed into an alley, damaging parked cars but causing no injuries. The other wing has yet to be located, police said.
According to KTVN News, Spielman was treated on the scene for his injuries and released.
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