# Accident 20090424013449A: Valent TAIFUN17EII, Mammoth Lakes, CA, April 24, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 24, 2009
- Place: Mammoth Lakes, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.7800° N, 118.9558° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7800&lon=-118.9558&mi=10
- Aircraft: N20822, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N20822-2013-11-07) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Valentin TAIFUN 17 E II (registry code 05614UE, https://openairdocs.org/model/valentin-taifun-17-e-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Limbach L2400 (registry code 38603, https://openairdocs.org/engine/limbach-l2400) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: VALENT TAIFUN17EII
- Reported engine: LIMBAC L2400
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 918 total, 70 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR09LA222](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA222) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090424013449A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) A VALENTIN TAIFUN 17 E II MOTOR-GLIDER, COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES NEAR MAMMOTH LAKES, CALIFORNIA.  THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE WINGS AND FUSELAGE FROM IMPACTING TREES.  THE EMPENNAGE REMAINED INTACT.  THE LAST DEPARTURE POINT WAS TONOPAH, VEVADA.  THE FLIGHT DEPARTED TONOPAH AT ABOUT 1500, WITH A PLANNED DESTINATION OF MODESTO, CALIFORNIA.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED TO MAMMOTH LAKES (MMH), THE NEAREST REPORTING STATION.  SATELLITE DATA INDICATES THAT A CLOUD LAYER OBSCURED THE MOUNTAINS TO THE WEST AND THE ASSUMED FLIGHT PATH TO THE DESTINATION.  A FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED AND ACTIVATED.  IT APPEARS THAT THE PILOT MAY HAVE BEEN HEADING TOWARD THE LEE VINING AIRPORT.  THIS AIRPORT WAS LISTED IN THE FLIGHT PLAN AS AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS REPORTED MISSING WHEN THE FLIGHT FAILED TO ARRIVE AT IT'S DESTINATION.  THE CIVIL AIR PATROL DISCOVERED THE WRECKAGE ON MAY 1, 2009.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR09LA222](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA222), Apr 24, 2009: Valentin Taifun 17 E II (N20822), Mammoth Lakes, CA, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering in a canyon.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.