Valentin TAIFUN 17 E II N20822

Summary

On 24 April 2009, a Valentin TAIFUN 17 E II registered N20822, operated by Allen R Melendy, was involved in an accident near Mammoth Lakes, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 April 2009

Classification

Accident

Location

Mammoth Lakes, California, United States

Coordinates

37.7800, -118.9558

Aircraft

Valentin TAIFUN 17 E II

Registration

N20822

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Allen R Melendy

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tonopah → Modesto

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR09LA222

2 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering in a canyon.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The motor-glider wreckage was located in mountainous terrain at an elevation of about 8,000-feet. The wreckage debris path was dispersed throughout trees and extended for 325 feet in a shallow canyon. The nearest weather reporting station, located about 10 miles from the accident site, indicated that around the time of departure, there was a cloud ceiling at 4,200 feet with calm wind. The ceiling observation was lowered to 3,300 feet about 2 hours later, with the wind gusting from 10 to 24 knots. Postaccident inspection of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The circumstances leading up to the accident could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.