Valentin TAIFUN 17 E II accident near Mammoth Lakes, CA
On April 24, 2009, a Valentin TAIFUN 17 E II (airplane) was involved in an accident near Mammoth Lakes, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- April 24, 2009
- Place
- Mammoth Lakes, CA
- Aircraft
- Valentin TAIFUN 17 E II · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 37.780°N, 118.956°W
- NTSB ID
- 20090501X70125
Official records · WPR09LA222
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 24, 2009, at an undetermined time, an experimental Valentin Taifun 17 E II motor-glider, N20822, collided with terrain under unknown circumstances near Mammoth Lakes, California. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The certificated private pilot and one passenger were killed; the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage from impact forces. The cross-country personal flight departed Tonopah, Nevada, about 1500 Pacific daylight time, with a planned destination of Modesto, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at Mammoth Lakes, the nearest reporting station, and no flight plan had been filed. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an alert notice (ALNOT) after family members notified them of the overdue airplane. The Civil Air Patrol discovered the wreckage on May 1, 2009. PERSONNEL INFORMATION A review of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airman records revealed that the 67-year-old pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, instrument airplane, and glider. His third-class medical certificate, issued on May 27, 2008, had the limitation that the pilot must wear corrective lenses. An examination of excerpts from the pilot's logbook indicated an estimated total flight time of 966 hours as of the last entry on April 16, 2009. He logged 19 hours in the last 90 days, and 8 hours in the last 30 days. He had an estimated 310 hours in gliders. He completed a biennial flight re
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering in a canyon.
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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
