- Date
- December 14, 1994, 17:09 local (22:09 UTC)
- Place
- Cleveland, OH
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N59MWElvin N. Kier Varieze
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 5, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 9023
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
A fatigue crack in the right elevator torque tube resulting in the disconnection of the elevator torque tubes and subsequent loss of airplane control.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
During takeoff climb, the airplane went into a left bank. Pilot control input would not correct the banking. The airplane made two complete circles and then impacted terrain about 1/4 mile past the end of the departed runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the elevator torque tubes, connected by a bolt, were disconnected. The right elevator was jammed in the down position. Examination of the torque tubes revealed the right elevator torque tube had a fatigue crack around the bolt hole area allowing it to disconnect from the left elevator torque tube.
Factual narrative
On December 14, 1994, at 1709 eastern standard time, a homebuilt Varieze, N59MW, impacted terrain shortly after takeoff from runway 10 at the Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport. The pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was destroyed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The local personnel flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot reported that during takeoff climb the airplane banked left and surface control inputs would not correct the banking. He stated the airplane made two complete turns before it impacted terrain. The airplane crashed about 1/4 of a mile north of the airport.
Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the elevator torque tubes, connected by a bolt, were disconnected. The right elevator was jammed in the down position. Examination of the torque tubes revealed the right elevator torque tube had a fatigue crack around the bolt hole area.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N59MW
- Reported as
- Elvin N. Kier Varieze
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 618
- Airframe hours
- 720
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- White, Macey
- Registered owner
- White, Macey
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 1, 1994 · 15 hours before
- Destination
- OH
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 35
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 612 total · 333 in this make and model · 526 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 11 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 60° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,200 ft broken
- Temperature
- 34 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CLE, 1 nm away