# NTSB CHI83LA077: Rutan Varieze, N441EZ, Youngstown, OH, January 9, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 9, 1983, 16:01 local (21:01 UTC)
- Place: Youngstown, OH
- Location: 41.2670° N, 80.6982° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from YOUNGSTOWN/WARREN RGNL (YNG), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2670&lon=-80.6982&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12064
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI83LA077
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12064/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI83LA077

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT TOOK OFF WITH MINIMUM FUEL TO PRACTICE TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS. AFTER 20 MINUTES OF FLIGHT HE TURNED ON FINAL APPROACH AND ADVANCED THE THROTTLE WITH NO POWER RESPONSE. DUE TO LOW ALTITUDE AND A WOODED AREA ON FINAL HE ATTEMPTED A RIGHT TURN TO LAND ON A FREEWAY, TOUCHED DOWN SHORT AND COLLIDED WITH A FENCE. THE EARLY MODELS OF VARIEZE AIRCRAFT ARE SUBJECT TO UNPORTING THE FUEL TANK LINE WHEN OPERATING WITH MINUMUM FUEL. LATER MODELS HAVE A TANK SUMP TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N441EZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N441EZ-2014-11-13), registration cancelled 2014-11-13, S/N 1807 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RUTAN VARIEZE
- Registry model: [Weatherly Joseph T VARIEZE](https://openairdocs.org/model/weatherly-joseph-t-varieze) (registry code 05609FC) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1807
- Airframe hours: 140
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 112 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: J. T. Weatherly
- Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 1982, 30 hours before
- Airport: YNG, Youngstown, runway 14, 7,493 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 9,503 total, 140 in this make and model, 9,475 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19830109000629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830109000629A), Jan 9, 1983: Amtrru VARIEZE, Youngstown, OH, Destroyed. Engine quit from fuel starvation. Fuel tank design allows fuel unporting when airplane is operated with low fuel.

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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