# NTSB IAD98LA050: McClead Varieze, N728RJ, Middlebury, CT, April 29, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 29, 1998, 09:52 local (13:52 UTC) - Place: Middlebury, CT - Location: 41.5279° N, 73.1276° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Middlebury, CT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5279&lon=-73.1276&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 31, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28291 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD98LA050 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28291/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD98LA050 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate preflight when he did not secure the right wing fuel tank cap which led to fuel exhaustion. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fuel system,cap - not secured (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing ## Analysis The pilot altered his preflight inspection, on the day of the accident, by putting an additive into the fuel. He stated that after doing so, he 'may not have tightened the right gas cap.' The pilot visually checked the fuel tanks, and reported 16 gallons of fuel onboard. He departed for a local flight and approximately 35 minutes later, while doing air work, the engine 'suddenly quit'. He attempted to glide back to the airport, and when he realized he would not make the runway, he performed a forced landing into a wooded area. Examination revealed the fuel tanks had maintained their integrity, with no indication of leakage. The right fuel cap was found off, hanging by its chain with no fuel in the tank and no indication of soil contamination beneath the tank. A 'trace' of fuel was found in the left tank and the center tank was empty. A Federal Aviation Administration Safety Inspector stated that no fuel was shown on either fuel gauge and no fuel was found in the fuel lines or carburetor, with about a half ounce of fuel in the fuel filter. There was no fuel smell on the ground surrounding the airplane. ## Factual narrative On April 29, 1998, about 0952 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt Varieze, N728RJ, was destroyed when it collided with terrain during a forced landing near Middlebury, Connecticut. The certificated private pilot/owner received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that he departed from Waterbury Airport, Oxford, Connecticut, about 0910. He stated that while doing air work at 8,000 feet, near Mountain Meadow Airport (22B), the engine "suddenly quit." He was unable to find 22B, and attempted to glide to Waterbury Airport. The pilot stated that he could see runway 18, and announced on the Unicom frequency that he was making an engine-out approach. When he realized that he was not going to reach the runway, he then chose a wooded area. The wreckage was located April 30, 1998, a 1/2 mile from the airport in a wooded area, inverted, with the pilot trapped inside. According to fuel receipts, 11 gallons of fuel was purchased on March 27, 1998, and the pilot reported that this filled the fuel tanks to their capacity of 24 gallons. The pilot stated that he had flown the airplane for 1 1/2 hours after the refueling. The pilot said that during his preflight inspection, he visually checked the fuel tanks, thought he had 16 gallons of fuel onboard, and that the Hobbs meter read 212.25 hours. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector recorded the Hobbs meter in the wreckage at 214.7 hours. In a written statement, the pilot said that he had altered his preflight routine on the day of the accident by putting an additive into the fuel. He stated that he "may not have tightened the right gas cap." The FAA Inspector examined the wreckage on May 1, 1998. His examination of the wreckage revealed that the airplane's three fuel tanks had maintained their integrity, with no indication of fuel leakage. The right fuel cap was found off, hanging by its chain with no fuel in the tank and no indication of soil contamination beneath the tank. A "trace" of fuel was found in the left tank and the center tank was empty. The Inspector stated that the airplane contained fuel sight gauges and no fuel was shown on either gauge. All fuel lines to the engine were found intact with no loose connections. No fuel was found in the fuel lines or carburetor, with about a half ounce of fuel found in the fuel filter. There was no fuel smell on the ground surrounding the airplane. The pilot bought the homebuilt airplane in June 1997, and had accumulated 30 hours of flight experience. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N728RJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N728RJ-1998-10-31), registration cancelled 1998-10-31, S/N 2199 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: McClead VARIEZE - Registry model: [Mcclead Charles A VARIEZE](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcclead-charles-a-varieze) (registry code 05690G7) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 2199 - Airframe hours: 400 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 105 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert J. Grady - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: OXC, WATERBURY, CT - Airport: N41, Waterbury Airport, runway 18, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 1,122 total, 30 in this make and model, 811 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: OXC, 1 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 19980429008209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980429008209A), Apr 29, 1998: Amtr VARIEZE, Waterbury, CT, Destroyed. Lost power at 8000 ft over 22B. Unable to locate it. Tried for N41. Unable landed in trees. Fuel tanks empty. (.4) the pilot altered his preflight inspection,… 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.