Missing glider?

I heard through the grapevine that there's a search going on for a two place
motorglider that left Tonopah for somewhere in CA yesterday. Last contact in
the area of Mono Lake.

CAP was conducting search missions flying out of Minden today. Other than
that, no corroboration or info to substantiate. Anyone have any info on
this?

bumper
zz
Minden

On Apr 25, 8:39*pm, "bumper" wrote:
I heard through the grapevine that there's a search going on for a two place
motorglider that left Tonopah for somewhere in CA yesterday. Last contact in
the area of Mono Lake.

CAP was conducting search missions flying out of Minden today. Other than
that, no corroboration or info to substantiate. Anyone have any info on
this?

bumper
zz
Minden

A couple of my CAP friends at RAL had a N number we looked it up on
the landings n number database and the motorglider is a Taufin I
think, out of Colorado. These guys (CAP) were going to Modesto to
start a search from the west side. Russ

I've attached a Fox News report which confirms that there is a search
for a missing motor glider underway. Here's hoping that somehow they
landed out, rather than crashed, and that they get out OK.

Martin



http://www.fox40.com/pages/landing_l...317&feedID=190

reports

FOX40 News
April 26, 2009
MODESTO - Authorities are searching the Sierra Mountains as they look
for a missing motorized sailplane carrying the pilot and one
passengers.

According to the Civil Air Patrol the two were reported missing Friday
evening when the plane failed to reach the Modesto Airport. The
missing pilot and passenger had originally planned a trip from
Tonopah, Nevada, over the Sierra Mountains to Modesto.

The small aircraft is equipped with an emergency locator transmitter,
but no signal has been detected. In addition to the Civil Air Patrol
aircrews searching from the air, radar-tracking data has been received
from the FAA and is being analyzed.

I am not trying to speculate anything, but wasn't Friday a strong wave
day with very strong wind, the day JP did a 1250km in a SparowHawk? I
find it hard to imagine they were trying to cross the Sierra east to
west in these conditions, even in a motorglider.
Also it sounds like they did not carry a Spot.
I hope they somehow managed to survive.

Ramy


On Apr 26, 11:52*pm, Hellman wrote:
I've attached a Fox News report which confirms that there is a search
for a missing motor glider underway. Here's hoping that somehow they
landed out, rather than crashed, and that they get out OK.

Martin

http://www.fox40.com/pages/landing_l...horities-Searc...

reports

FOX40 News
April 26, 2009
MODESTO - Authorities are searching the Sierra Mountains as they look
for a missing motorized sailplane carrying the pilot and one
passengers.

According to the Civil Air Patrol the two were reported missing Friday
evening when the plane failed to reach the Modesto Airport. *The
missing pilot and passenger had originally planned a trip from
Tonopah, Nevada, over the Sierra Mountains to Modesto.

The small aircraft is equipped with an emergency locator transmitter,
but no signal has been detected. *In addition to the Civil Air Patrol
aircrews searching from the air, radar-tracking data has been received
from the FAA and is being analyzed.

On Apr 25, 8:39*pm, "bumper" wrote:
I heard through the grapevine that there's a search going on for a two place
motorglider that left Tonopah for somewhere in CA yesterday. Last contact in
the area of Mono Lake.

CAP was conducting search missions flying out of Minden today. Other than
that, no corroboration or info to substantiate. Anyone have any info on
this?

bumper
zz
Minden

Yes a Teifun 17E II tail number N20822 I think. My long time ex-
stepfathers plane.

On Apr 27, 11:13*pm, wrote:
On Apr 25, 8:39*pm, "bumper" wrote:

I heard through the grapevine that there's a search going on for a two place motorglider that left Tonopah for somewhere in CA yesterday. Last contact in the area of Mono Lake.

CAP was conducting search missions flying out of Minden today.

Yes a Teifun 17E II tail number N20822 I think. My long time ex-
stepfathers plane.

http://www.chieftain.com/articles/20...3941809611.txt

http://www.aircraftone.com/aircraft.asp?tn=N20822

http://www.aircraftone.com/aircraft.asp?tn=N20822


That motorglider was in Iowa last summer. I met the owner at a fly in
and we "raced" to another airport, me in my Fly Baby. I commented
that I'd never raced anyone before and Alan replied that he'd never
WON before! We had a good laugh.

I sure hope they make it out ok.

MM

On Apr 28, 8:13�am, wrote:
http://www.aircraftone.com/aircraft.asp?tn=N20822

That motorglider was in Iowa last summer. �I met the owner at a fly in
and we "raced" to another airport, me in my Fly Baby. �I commented
that I'd never raced anyone before and Alan replied that he'd never
WON before! �We had a good laugh.

�I sure hope they make it out ok.

MM

Any more news on this?

wrote in message
...

Any more news on this?

Not much that isn't in the news. There's been more snow on the Sierra near
Mammoth since the glider went missing. That could make it harder to spot any
wreckage.

I stopped by CAP today. As usual, they don't say much. I heard that the
California Highway Patrol was using a helicopter down lower . . . I think
CAP usually maintains 1000 agl,

bumper

On Apr 29, 9:25*pm, "bumper" wrote:
wrote in message

...

Any more news on this?

Not much that isn't in the news. There's been more snow on the Sierra near
Mammoth since the glider went missing. That could make it harder to spot any
wreckage.

I stopped by CAP today. As usual, they don't say much. I heard that the
California Highway Patrol was using a helicopter down lower . . . I think
CAP usually maintains 1000 agl,

bumper

Bad news
http://www.kcra.com/news/19347482/detail.html

Ramy