A cheer went up at the Minden-Tahoe Airport when searchers learned a Japanese glider pilot who bailed out over the Pine Nut Mountains was found alive and ambulatory.
Douglas County Sheriff's Search & Rescue team members found the pilot at about 6:45 p.m., nearly three hours after he collided with an executive jet in the skies over Douglas County.
Lyon County Sheriff's Lt. Jeff Page said the pilot was found at the mouth of Lone Pine Canyon after searchers found a parachute and harness not far from there.
"He has no apparent injuries but they will take him to get checked out," said Page, who was handling public information duties for the search. "He hit a jet at 300 knots and had the presence of mind to bail out. He is a very lucky man."
The pilot was the only person inside the glider when it collided with the jet mid-air about five miles south of the Douglas-Carson line. Page said the pilot took off from the Minden airport and came to Carson Valley to fly gliders.
The pilot's name was not released
The occupants of the jet landed safely at Carson City Airport.
Douglas, Carson and Lyon search and rescue teams participated in the search.
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