# NTSB DEN82FTM16: Varieze, N104P, Milcreek Canyon, UT, July 28, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: July 28, 1982, 15:50 local (21:50 UTC)
- Place: Milcreek Canyon, UT
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 28, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71704
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN82FTM16
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71704/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN82FTM16

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, maneuvering
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO TREES IN A CANYON AT AN ELEVATION OF 9300 MSL. THE WEATHER WAS REPORTED AS MARGINAL VFR. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. VFR FLIGHT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. A TOXICOLOGICAL CHECK OF THE PILOT'S BLOOD SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 91 MG%; HOWEVER, THE MEDICAL EXAMINER FOUND EVIDENCE THAT THE ALCOHOL WAS PRODUCED BY POST-MORTEM, TISSUE PUTREFACTION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N104P (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: VARIEZE
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 104
- Airframe hours: 500
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Geo. T. Holmes
- Registered owner: Geo. T. Holmes
- Departed: SALT LAKE, UT
- Destination: OSHKOSH, WI

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 10,000 total, 200 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken
- Observed at: SLC

## 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 19820728036619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820728036619A), Jul 28, 1982: Amtrru VARIEZE, Bountiful, UT, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Struck trees in a canyon in marginal VMC. Pilot had advanced coronary disease and died prior to impact.

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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