# NTSB CHI98LA314: Valentin Taifun 17E, N17NT, Lake Geneva, WI, August 15, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 15, 1998, 15:25 local (20:25 UTC) - Place: Lake Geneva, WI - Coordinates: 42.579627, -88.420509 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5796&lon=-88.4205&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 19, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43747 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI98LA314 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43747/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA314 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain directional control and obtain proper climb rate during initial climb after takeoff. A factor was trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - proper climb rate - not obtained, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot said that the airplane settled during initial climb into trees off the right side of the runway. Witnesses said that the airplane attained a steep nose high condition after liftoff, climbed to about 50 to 60 feet above ground level, prior to impact with trees. One witness thought the airplane encountered a stall prior to impact. Subsequent to the accident an examination of the airplane failed to reveal any pre-accident anomalies with the airplane or its systems. ## Factual narrative On August 15, 1998, at 1525 central daylight time, a Valentin GMBH Taifun 17E (Motorglider), N17NT, operated by a private pilot, experienced a collision with trees on initial climb after takeoff from runway 5 (4,100' X 75' dry/asphalt) when the airplane drifted to the right of the runway, at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. The pilot reported no injuries. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The flight was originating at the time of the accident with the intended destination of Kenosha, Wisconsin. The pilot said in his written statement that the airplane climbed to an altitude of 100 to 150 feet during the initial climb, but began to settle. He said that he considered turning back to the runway; however elected to maintain wings level. The airplane settled into the trees. He indicated that rotation speed was 43 knots and he maintained 60 knots until impact. One eyewitness told investigators that he watched the airplane takeoff and revealed that on liftoff, he observed the right wing drop and the airplane to start a right turn. He said that he observed the airplane wings to level; however, he said that the airplane was to the right of the runway. He said that at this point he observed "the pitch attitude of the aircraft look abnormally high." The witness said that the airplane continued to climb until impact with trees. A second eyewitness related to investigators similar observations as the first witness, adding that the airplane climbed to an "altitude of 50-60 feet, stalled and pancaked into the trees." An examination of the airplane subsequent to the accident failed to reveal any pre-accident anomalies with the airplane or its systems. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N17NT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N17NT), registered now, S/N 1046 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Valentin TAIFUN 17E - Registry model: [Valentin TAIFUN 17E](https://openairdocs.org/model/valentin-taifun-17e) (registry code 9370100) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1046 - Airframe hours: 288 - Engines: Limbach 2000EBI 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Skycoach, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 7, 1998, 4 hours before - Departed: C02 - Destination: ENW, KENOSHA, WI - Airport: C02, Grand Geneva, runway 5, 4,100 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 337 total, 90 in this make and model, 158 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 10 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: JVL, 30 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19980815020929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980815020929A), Aug 15, 1998: Valent TAIFUN17E, Geneva, WI, Substantial damage. Acft took off, began to climb, drifted to the right, and crashed into trees. (-23) tailfun N17NT, a motorized glider, departed runway 05 at the lake… 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. --- 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.