- Date
- September 22, 1990, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place
- Neenah, WI
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N8422JVarga Kachina 2150A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 14, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900922041729A
- Case key
- 14484
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's misjudgement of the fuel supply, and his failure to refuel the aircraft. Contributing to the accident was the unsuitable, soft terrain encountered.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
During climb to cruise the aircraft experienced a total loss of engine power. A forced landing was made and on touchdown in a soft field the nose gear collapsed and the aircraft nosed over. Subsequent investigation found no evidence of usable fuel on board the aircraft. The pilot stated he had intentionally been operating the aircraft in a low fuel state in order to have the fuel valves inspected, which he stated could not be done with full tanks.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8422J
- Reported as
- Varga Kachina 2150A (KACHINA 21)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- VAC-167-80
- Airframe hours
- 774
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-A, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- James D. Courtney
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Destination
- ATW · Appleton, WI
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 55
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 357 total · 220 in this make and model · 295 as pilot in command · 8 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 50 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ATW, 7 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.
Other investigations on N8422J · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.