# Accident 20120208005619A: Varga Aircraft Corp. 2150A, Frankston, TX, February 8, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 8, 2012, 12:00 local time
- Place: Frankston, TX
- Airport: Aero Estates
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.0775° N, 95.4369° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.0775&lon=-95.4369&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8293J, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8293J) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Varga 2150A (registry code 9350102, https://openairdocs.org/model/varga-2150a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: VARGA AIRCRAFT CORP. 2150A
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-320-A2C
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 5,580 total, 810 in this make and model, 13 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN12FA152](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12FA152) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120208005619A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

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

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

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.

- [NTSB CEN12FA152](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12FA152), Feb 8, 2012: Varga 2150A (N8293J), Frankston, TX, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The 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.

## Other reports on N8293J (1)

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

- [Incident 19890415018169I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890415018169I), Apr 15, 1989: Varga 2150AMORISY (N8293J), Planada, CA. Smoke in cockpit. Elected to land on highway. Voltage regulator had failed.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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