# NTSB CEN23LA329: Varga 2150A, N5601G, Green Lake, WI, July 27, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 27, 2023, 12:33 local (17:33 UTC) - Place: Green Lake, WI - Coordinates: 43.8865, -88.9438 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.8865&lon=-88.9438&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA MKE FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 192729 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA329 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192729/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192729 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA329 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, which resulted from the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Varga 2150A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=9350102), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Varga 2150A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=9350102), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Varga 2150A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=9350102), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Varga 2150A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=9350102), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Varga 2150A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=9350102), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was flying the airplane to the annual Experimental Aircraft Association Airventure fly-in at the Wittman Regional Airport (OSH), Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and was proceeding as prescribed in the Notices to Air Missions (NOTAM) pertaining to arrivals to the airport. He stated that the airplane’s engine lost power and he activated the auxiliary fuel pump, which restored engine power briefly. The engine again lost power and the pilot executed a forced landing to a corn field. The airplane nosed over during the landing and incurred substantial damage to the fuselage and vertical tail. Postaccident examination revealed no smell of fuel at the accident site and no evidence of a fuel spill. No usable quantity of fuel was found within the fuel tanks and the tanks were not breached. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Automatic dependent surveillance - broadcast (ADS-B) data revealed that the flight lasted about 3.6 hours. According to the airplane operations manual, the maximum flight duration at normal cruise was about 3.9 hours without reserve, but was predicated on using a lean mixture setting. Based on the available information, it is likely that the loss of engine power was due to fuel exhaustion. ## Factual narrative On July 27, 2023, about 1233 central daylight time, a Varga 2150A, N5601G, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Green Lake, Wisconsin. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, he was flying the airplane to the annual Experimental Aircraft Association Airventure fly-in at the Wittman Regional Airport (OSH), Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and was proceeding as prescribed in the NOTAM pertaining to arrivals to the airport. He stated that the airplane’s engine lost power and he activated the auxiliary fuel pump, which restored engine power briefly. The engine again lost power and the pilot executed a forced landing to a corn field. The airplane nosed over during the landing and incurred substantial damage to the fuselage and vertical stabilizer. ADS-B data showed that the airplane departed KSBN at 0856 and proceeded toward OSH. It maneuvered southwest of OSH before the data ended at 1233. Using this information, the airplane was airborne for 3 hours and 37 minutes. According to the Airplane Operations Manual, the fuel capacity was 35 gallons with 34 gallons usable, and the fuel burn at 75% power when properly leaned was between 8.5 and 8.7 gallons per hour depending on atmospheric conditions, or 3.9 to 4.0 hours endurance without reserve. Postaccident examination of the airplane at the accident scene was conducted by Federal Aviation Administration inspectors. The airplane was inverted in a corn field. There was no fuel smell at the accident site and no evidence of a fuel spill. Once the airplane was righted the fuel tanks were examined and no usable fuel was found in the fuel tanks. The tanks were not compromised. Post-recovery examination of the airplane and engine revealed no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5601G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5601G), registered now, S/N VAC189-85, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: VARGA AIRCRAFT CORP. 2150A - Registry model: [Varga 2150A](https://openairdocs.org/model/varga-2150a) (registry code 9350102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: VAC189-85 - Year built: 1985 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Departed: SBN, South Bend, IN - Destination: OSH, Oshkosh, WI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 4-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: KOSH, 18 nm away - METAR: KOSH 271753Z 19009KT 150V220 10SM CLR 31/23 A2994 RMK AO2 SLP123 T03060233 10306 20217 58013 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20230727012809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230727012809A), Jul 27, 2023: Varga Aircraft Corp. 2150A, Green Lake, WI, Substantial damage. On July 27, 2023 at 14:30 CST a Varga model 2150A [privacy data omitted] flew from south bend, in to oshkosh WI. While entering the holding pattern for the… ## Other investigations on N5601G (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 MIA86LA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA86LA160), May 16, 1986: Varga 2150A (N5601G), Kiln, MS, substantial damage ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 18, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192729. 9.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16445996&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation with pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 94 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16446696&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20with%20pilot-Rel.pdf - Aircraft examination notes (item 3, PDF, 6 pages, 280 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16745654&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Aircraft%20Examination-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation (FAA) (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16737599&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20with%20FAA-Rel.pdf - ADS-B data (item 5, KML, 161 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16738037&FileExtension=kml&FileName=N5601G-track-EGM96-Rel.kml - Excerpt from airplane operations manual (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 4.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16738874&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=AFM%20Excerpts-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.