20090719047659A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · O'Bert Jame VARI-EZE · Columbus, GA · July 19, 2009

Date: July 19, 2009 · 18:18 local
Place: Columbus, GA
Airport: Columbus Metropolitan
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N39DX
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA09LA412
Reported as: O'Bert Jame VARI-EZE
Reported engine: Amateur-built
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,737 total1,737 in this make and model20 in the last 90 days

N39DXRegistration cancelled Mar 26, 2010 · O'Bert James VARI-EZES/N 311 · Built 1994 Airframe modelO'Bert James VARI-EZE Engine modelAmateur-built UNKNOWN ENG

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Aircraft N39DX took off from Columbus airport (csg) and was practicing touch and go procedures. During climb from the second touch and go, the pilot reported to the tower that he had a problem. The aircraft was air-borne and approaching the end of the runway when it veered to the right and lost attitude. The right wing struck the side of a maintenance building about 15 feet above the ground, then hit the top of a utility shed before colliding with a parked airport tractor.

As the FAA filed it

AIRCRAFT N39DX TOOK OFF FROM COLUMBUS AIRPORT (CSG) AND WAS PRACTICING TOUCH AND GO PROCEDURES. DURING CLIMB FROM THE SECOND TOUCH AND GO, THE PILOT REPORTED TO THE TOWER THAT HE HAD A PROBLEM. THE AIRCRAFT WAS AIR-BORNE AND APPROACHING THE END OF THE RUNWAY WHEN IT VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND LOST ATTITUDE. THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE SIDE OF A MAINTENANCE BUILDING ABOUT 15 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THEN HIT THE TOP OF A UTILITY SHED BEFORE COLLIDING WITH A PARKED AIRPORT TRACTOR.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ERA09LA412Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportColumbus, GAThe pilots improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.Jul 19, 2009 · Substantial damage