# NTSB DEN85LTE03: Kenneth Roebuck Varieze, N572KE, Antonio, CO, December 12, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: December 12, 1984, 07:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place: Antonio, CO
- Coordinates: 37.06903, -106.009338 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0690&lon=-106.0093&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16773
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85LTE03
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16773/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85LTE03

## 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 - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - vfr flight into imc - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

PLT HAD FILED A VFR FLT PLAN FROM ESPANOLA, NM, TO DURANGO, CO, WITH A PROPOSED DEPARTURE TIME OF 1500 MST AND AS EN ROUTE FLT TIME OF 1 HR 10 MINS. THE FLT PLAN WAS NOT ACTIVATED. A SEARCH FOR THE ACFT BEGAN ON 12/13/84 AND ENDED ON 12/24/84. ON 6/10/85 THE ACFT WRECKAGE WAS FOUND 1/4 MILE WEST OF LOS PINOS, CO, AT THE 10,400 FT LEVEL OF A MOUNTAIN. WX OBSERVATIONS FOR 12/12/84 BETWEEN 1250 MST AND 1650 MST INDICATED CLOUDS AND SNOW SHOWERS OF AN UNKNOWN INTENSITY OBSCURED MOUNTAIN TOPS IN THE AREA OF THE ACCIDENT SITE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N572KE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N572KE-2015-05-11), registration cancelled 2015-05-11, S/N 1905, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: KENNETH ROEBUCK VARIEZE
- Registry model: [Roebuck Kenneth VARI EZE](https://openairdocs.org/model/roebuck-kenneth-vari-eze) (registry code 05609PL) (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: 1905
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Clarke E. Swannack
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Unknown, March 31, 1983
- Departed: Q14, ESPANOLA, NM
- Destination: DRO, DURANGO, CO
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 7,604 total, 1,713 in this make and model, 6,569 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Not reported
- Observed at: ALS, 285 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 19841212076159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841212076159A), Dec 12, 1984: Amtrru VARIEZE, Antonito, CO, Destroyed. Crashed in mountainous area with weather a factor. Wreckage not inspected. Aircraft out of annual.

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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