# NTSB CHI89DEP08: James Eggleston Varieze, N13EG, Cottage Grove, WI, July 29, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: July 29, 1989, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Cottage Grove, WI
- Coordinates: 43.079498, -89.199295 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0795&lon=-89.1993&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 25, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14210
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI89DEP08
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14210/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI89DEP08

## Probable cause

THE PILOT MISJUDGED ALTITUDE AND DISTANCE TO THE RUNWAY AND FAILED TO ATTAIN  THE  PROPER  TOUCHDOWN POINT FOR A LANDING.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS  AND  UNEVEN TERRAIN SHORT OF THE RUNWAY.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - 
- Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT SAID THAT HE ENCOUNTERED LOW CEILINGS AND RAIN DURING CRUISE FLIGHT AND ELECTED TO DIVERT TO AN ALTERNATE DESTINATION. DURING THE THIRD ATTEMPT TO LAND, RAIN OBSCURED THE APPROACH END OF THE LANDING RUNWAY. THE PILOT LOST SIGHT OF THE RUNWAY AND THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN SHORT OF THE THRESHOLD. THE AIRCRAFT WAS THEN DAMAGED AS IT ROLLED OVER UNEVEN TERRAIN SHORT OF THE RUNWAY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N13EG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N13EG-1989-08-24), registration cancelled 1989-08-24, S/N 235 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: JAMES EGGLESTON VARIEZE
- Registry model: [Eggleston VARIEZE](https://openairdocs.org/model/eggleston-varieze) (registry code 0560998) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 235
- Airframe hours: 49
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: James O. Eggleston
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, July 25, 1989, 8 hours before
- Departed: VPZ, VALPARAISO, IN
- Airport: 52C, Blackhawk Field, runway 27, 2,600 × 40 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 480 total, 53 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MSN, 8 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 19890729025609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890729025609A), Jul 29, 1989: Amtrru VARIEZE, Cottage Grove, WI, Destroyed. Flew into low clouds,fog and heavy rain near airport crash landed short of runway.

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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