# NTSB CHI02LA104: Hoagland Varieze, N97JW, Gary, IN, April 15, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 14, 2002, 21:00 local (Apr 15, 2002, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Gary, IN - Location: 41.5934° N, 87.3464° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Gary, IN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5934&lon=-87.3464&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report January 16, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - South Bend FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54507 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA104 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54507/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54507 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA104 ## Probable cause The pilot was unable to maintain directional control of the airplane during the forced landing due to a locked brake. Factors associated with the accident were the pilot's inaccurate fuel consumption calculations which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the light pole. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor) - fuel consumption calculations - inaccurate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - directional control - not possible, pilot in command (cause) - landing gear,normal brake system - locked (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - pole (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane contacted a light pole during a forced landing following a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. The airplane was topped off with fuel (31 gallons) prior to the four leg cross country flight. The pilot reported that on departure for the last leg the airplane veered right during the takeoff roll. Upon reaching his destination airport, he aborted the landing due to a lack of directional control. He then decided to fly to a larger near-by airport. Prior to reaching this airport, the engine lost power. The pilot selected a street on which to make a forced landing. He reported that during the landing the airplane "Veered to the right, having spun clockwise relative to the forward vector. The plane struck a city light pole." The pilot used a fuel burn of 4.5 gallons per hour based on a Continental C-85 engine. However, the engine had been modified with a crankshaft, pistons, and rods for a O-200 engine. The pilot reported that after the accident, he estimated that he burned approximately 50 percent more fuel than he calculated. Following the accident the right brake rotor was found bent and locked against the caliper. The pilot speculated that he may have hit something during the last takeoff roll. ## Factual narrative On April 14, 2002, at 2100 central daylight time, an amateur built Varieze, N97JW, operated by a private pilot, collided with a light pole during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The accident occurred near the intersection of Ridge and Cleveland Roads in Gary, Indiana. The private pilot received serious injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The airplane departed Nashville, Tennessee (JWN), at 1650. The pilot reported the airplane was last topped off with fuel in French Lick, Indiana. He reported the airplane held 31 gallons of fuel of which 30 gallons were usable. The airplane was then flown to Fall-of-Rough, Kentucky; Henderson, Kentucky; and JWN. The pilot reported he then departed JWN with the intention of landing at Griffith, Indiana (05C). He reported that during the takeoff run at JWN, the airplane veered to the right. He corrected the directional control and continued the takeoff. He reported that upon reaching 05C, he aborted because of the lack of directional control. He then decided to land at Gary, Indiana. The pilot reported that he ran out of fuel while en route to Gary. The pilot selected a street on which to make a forced landing. He reported that during the landing the airplane "Veered to the right, having spun clockwise relative to the forward vector. The plane struck a city light pole." The pilot reported that he calculated his fuel consumption for the trip using 4.5 gallons per hour for a Continental C-85 engine. Using this fuel consumption rate, the pilot calculated that he would have used 20 gallons of fuel for the entire trip. However, the engine had been modified with a crankshaft, pistons, and rods for a O-200 engine. The pilot reported that after the accident, he estimated that he burned approximately 50 percent more fuel than he calculated. The pilot also stated that after the accident the right brake rotor was bent and locked against the caliper. He was not sure how this happened, but speculated that he may have hit something during the takeoff roll from JWN. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N97JW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N97JW-2003-02-06), registration cancelled 2003-02-06, S/N 2103, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Hoagland Varieze - Registry model: [Hoagland Deimer L VARIEZE](https://openairdocs.org/model/hoagland-deimer-l-varieze) (registry code 05609PC) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 2103 - Airframe hours: 290 - Engines: Continental c-85 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John J. Markey, Jr. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, June 1, 2001 - Departed: JWN, Nashville, TN - Destination: 05C, Griffith, IN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review June 1, 2001; seat: front; flight hours: 196 total, 28 in this make and model, 158 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright - Wind: 180° at 12 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.72 inHg - Observed at: GYY ## 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 20020414010879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020414010879A), Apr 14, 2002: Amtr VARIEZE, Gary, IN, No damage. (-23) N97JW (Varieze) was approximately 5 miles south of Gary airport when the pilot called and advised them that the aircraft was losing power. N97JW landed… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 7, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54507. 528 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 348 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428173&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Fuel Consumption Calculations (item 2, .PDF, 180 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40428174&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Fuel%20Consumption%20Calculations-Redacted.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.