# NTSB DEN82FTE27: Vari-Eze, N123EZ, Pagosa Springs, CO, September 10, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: September 10, 1982, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Pagosa Springs, CO
- Coordinates: 37.240596, -107.029701 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2406&lon=-107.0297&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 10, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72137
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN82FTE27
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72137/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN82FTE27

## Sequence of events

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

- Overrun, takeoff
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - uphill (contributing factor)
  - aborted takeoff - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - wet (contributing factor)
- On ground/water collision with object, takeoff
  - object - fence (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DUE TO AN APPROACHING THUNDERSTORM FROM THE WEST, THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE A TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 04 WITH A QUARTERING TAIL WIND. THE SURFACE WAS WET AND THERE WAS ABOUT A 20 FT RISE IN THE LAST HALF OF THE RUNWAY. THE RUNWAY WAS 5600 FT LONG, BUT ITS ELEVATION WAS 7674 FT AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS 65 DEG. THE PILOT STATED THAT WHEN HE WAS AT ABOUT MID-FIELD DURING THE TAKEOFF, HE HAD ACCELERATED TO 60 KTS, BUT THE HILL AT THE EAST END WOULD HAVE MADE IT DIFFICULT TO FLY OFF, SO HE DECIDED TO ABORT. HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP ON THE REMAINING WET RUNWAY. AFTER DEPARTING THE RUNWAY, THE AIRCRAFT WENT THROUGH A FENCE AND DOWN A ROCKY SLOPE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N123EZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N123EZ-2009-06-25), registration cancelled 2009-06-25, S/N 802, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: VARI-EZE
- Registry model: [Muirhead VARI-EZE](https://openairdocs.org/model/muirhead-vari-eze) (registry code 05609K5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 802
- Airframe hours: 271
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Bruce M. Muirhead
- Registered owner: Bruce M. Muirhead
- Departed: 2VI, PAGOSA SPRINGS, CO
- Destination: IV5, BOULDER, CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: 2VI, Stevens Field, runway 4, 5,600 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 1,451 total, 271 in this make and model, 1,451 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Temperature: 149 °F

## 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 19820910048699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820910048699A), Sep 10, 1982: Amtrru VARIEZE, Pagosa Springs, CO, Substantial damage. Attempted downwind takeoff due to a thunderstorm at other end. Unable to lift off, aborted, ran off end 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.

---
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.