Valentin TAIFUN 17E accident near Abilene, Texas, August 24, 1985
On August 24, 1985 at about 10:43 pm local time, a Valentin TAIFUN 17E (glider), registered N164RB, was destroyed in an accident near Abilene, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 24, 1985 · about 10:43 pm local time
- Place
- Abilene, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Valentin TAIFUN 17E
- Registration
- N164RB · no longer on the register · serial 1044
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 3,247 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 35 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,804 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Limbach L 2000 EB 1.B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ABI Abilene TX at 10:22 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from ABI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.