20120208005619A

Accident · Minor damage

FAA accident report · Varga 2150A · Frankston, TX · February 8, 2012

Date: February 8, 2012 · 12:00 local
Place: Frankston, TX
Airport: Aero Estates
Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Minor damage
Aircraft: N8293J
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN12FA152
Reported as: Varga 2150A
Reported engine: Lycoming O-320-A2C
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 5,580 total810 in this make and model13 in the last 90 days

N8293JRegistered now · Varga 2150AS/N VAC-139-79 Airframe modelVarga 2150A

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.

Pilot departed Aero Estates - T25 at approx 1015 for jso to obtain fuel. Departed jso at approximately 1100 to return to Aero Estates - T25. Reported overdue at approx 1530. Contact made with longview flight services approximately 1700 to try and locate aircraft. Suspected location of aircraft found approximately 1230 on 09 feb 2012 in lake palestine. Confirmation of registration made at 1338 on 09 feb 2012 by dive team. Pilot discovered missing at that time (seat belt found unlatched and canopy assembly latched open as reported by dive team). Aircraft recovered from lake approximately 1600 on 10 feb 2012. Preliminary inspection/investigation performed at lake shore. Aircraft sent to storage facility (asod). Pilot's body recovered Saturday 11 feb 2012 at approximately 0800. Awaiting autopsy report from dallas medical examiners office. End

As the FAA filed it

PILOT DEPARTED AERO ESTATES - T25 AT APPROX 1015 FOR JSO TO OBTAIN FUEL. DEPARTED JSO AT APPROXIMATELY 1100 TO RETURN TO AERO ESTATES - T25. REPORTED OVERDUE AT APPROX 1530. CONTACT MADE WITH LONGVIEW FLIGHT SERVICES APPROXIMATELY 1700 TO TRY AND LOCATE AIRCRAFT. SUSPECTED LOCATION OF AIRCRAFT FOUND APPROXIMATELY 1230 ON 09 FEB 2012 IN LAKE PALESTINE. CONFIRMATION OF REGISTRATION MADE AT 1338 ON 09 FEB 2012 BY DIVE TEAM. PILOT DISCOVERED MISSING AT THAT TIME (SEAT BELT FOUND UNLATCHED AND CANOPY ASSEMBLY LATCHED OPEN AS REPORTED BY DIVE TEAM). AIRCRAFT RECOVERED FROM LAKE APPROXIMATELY 1600 ON 10 FEB 2012. PRELIMINARY INSPECTION/INVESTIGATION PERFORMED AT LAKE SHORE. AIRCRAFT SENT TO STORAGE FACILITY (ASOD). PILOT'S BODY RECOVERED SATURDAY 11 FEB 2012 AT APPROXIMATELY 0800. AWAITING AUTOPSY REPORT FROM DALLAS MEDICAL EXAMINERS OFFICE. END

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 CEN12FA152Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportFrankston, TXThe loss of engine power due to carburetor ice, which resulted in the pilot ditching the airplane into the lake. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision not to apply carburetor heat.Feb 8, 2012 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N8293J · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Incident 19890415018169IFcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise · Planada, CASmoke in cockpit. Elected to land on highway. Voltage regulator had failed.Apr 15, 1989