# NTSB CHI82DA339: Rutan Varieze, N41EB, Litchfield, IL, September 5, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: September 5, 1982, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Litchfield, IL
- Location: 39.1625° N, 89.6746° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at LITCHFIELD MUNI (3LF), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1625&lon=-89.6746&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report September 5, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71439
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI82DA339
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71439/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI82DA339

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - airspeed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - go-around - attempted, pilot in command
- Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,main gear - overload (cause)
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT HAD RECEIVED 20 MINUTES OF INSTRUCTION IN THIS AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO HIS SOLO FLIGHT. THE PILOT MADE 8-10 PASSES AT THE RUNWAY PRIOR TO HIS LANDING ATTEMPT. ON APPROACH THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND IMPACTED THE RUNWAY CAUSING THE MAIN GEAR TO COLLAPSE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N41EB (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: RUTAN VARIEZE
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 855
- Airframe hours: 175
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Emerald J. Ullman
- Registered owner: Eugene Boos
- Departed: 3LF, LITCHFIELD, IL
- Destination: 3LF, LITCHFIELD, IL
- Airport: 3LF, Litchfield Muni, runway 27, 3,900 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 808 total, 1 in this make and model, 766 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 176 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: STL, 20 nm away

## 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 19820905043889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820905043889A), Sep 5, 1982: Amtrru VARIEZE, Litchfield, IL, Substantial damage. Pilot leveled off too high during landing. Gear collapsed at touch down.

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.

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