Valentin TAIFUN 17E N164RB

Summary

On 24 August 1985 at about 22:43 local time, a Valentin TAIFUN 17E registered N164RB, operated by Raymond E. Boyt, was involved in an accident near Abilene, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

24 August 1985 at 22:43

Classification

Accident

Location

Abilene, Texas, United States

Coordinates

32.4291, -99.8301

Aircraft

Valentin TAIFUN 17E

Registration

N164RB

Category

Glider

Engines

1

Operator

Raymond E. Boyt

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Abilene → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW85FA331

2 people died.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE GLIDER WAS THERMALING IN A SLOW RIGHT CLIMBING TURN ABOUT 600 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. WITNESSES STATED IT STARTED A RIGHT SPIRALING DESCENT AND THE NOSE SUDDENLY DROPPED UNTIL IT WAS IN A NEAR VERTICAL ATTITUDE. THE SPIRAL THEN DEVELOPED INTO A TIGHT RIGHT HAND SPIN WHICH CONTINUED UNTIL GROUND IMPACT OCCURRED. THE WITNESS ESTIMATED THE ALTITUDE AT 300 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND WHEN THE SPIN STARTED. SEVERAL DIFFERENT PILOTS WHO ARE QUITE FAMILIAR WITH GLIDER OPERATION STATED NO PILOT SHOULD ATTEMPT THERMALING (RECEIVING ADEQUATE LIFT FOR FLIGHT FROM RISING AIR CURRENTS) UNLESS HIS ALTITUDE IS AT LEAST 1000 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.