# NTSB FTW81DPM10: Varieze Rutan, N15RL, Bengal, OK, April 3, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: April 3, 1981
- Place: Bengal, OK · BENGAL, OK
- Location: 34.8329° N, 95.0619° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bengal, OK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8329&lon=-95.0619&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 7, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126986
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81DPM10
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81DPM10

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0503   81/4/3  NR.BENGAL,OK          VARIEZE RUTAN       CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 47, 130
        TIME - 1800                    N15RL               PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 40 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MONTGOMERY,AL               MCALLISTER,OK
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
           GROUND-WATER LOOP-SWERVE                                 LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER LEVEL OFF
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - SQUALL LINE
           WEATHER - THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - PRECAUTIONARY LANDING OFF AIRPORT
                                  LOW ON FUEL
                                  ADVERSE/UNFAVORABLE WEATHER
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      75
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          180                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      VFR
        REMARKS- TSTMS AT DESTN,UN TO LND.DELAYED DIVERTING TO ALTN ARPT.L BRAKE DMG & LOCKED DRG LNDG ON HIWAY.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N15RL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N15RL-1994-06-15), registration cancelled 1994-06-15, S/N 514 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: VARIEZE RUTAN
- Registry model: [Lonsway Roger RUTAN VARIEZE](https://openairdocs.org/model/lonsway-roger-rutan-varieze) (registry code 05609DG) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19810403014339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810403014339A), Apr 3, 1981: Amtrru VARIEZE, Bengal, OK, Substantial damage. Pilot encountered thunderstorms & reversed course. Crashed while attempting precautionary landing.

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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