# NTSB LAX83FA037: Tifft-V Varieze, N115EZ, Santa Paula, CA, November 20, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 20, 1982, 11:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place: Santa Paula, CA
- Coordinates: 34.400817, -119.070335 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4008&lon=-119.0703&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report November 20, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72541
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83FA037
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72541/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83FA037

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

DURING TAKEOFF THE ACFT DID NOT BECOME AIRBORNE UNTIL REACHING THE END OF THE RWY. AFTER FLYING UNDER THE FIRST SET OF WIRES THE LEFT MAIN GEAR STRUCK THE ROOF OF A SMALL HOUSE OFF THE EAST END OF THE FIELD, TAKING DOWN A TV ANTENNA. THE ACFT ENGAGED HEAVY COMMERCIAL TV COAX WHICH LODGED BETWEEN THE NOSE CONE & CANARD TURNING THE ACFT APPROXIMATELY 180 DEG. THE PLT STATED THE WIND SHIFTED DURING THE TAKEOFF.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N115EZ (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: TIFFT-V VARIEZE
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 115
- Airframe hours: 628
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-C2C reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Bruce A. Tifft
- Registered owner: Bruce A. Tifft
- Departed: SZP, SANTA PAULA, CA
- Destination: SZP, SANTA PAULA, CA
- Airport: SZP, Santa Paula, runway 4, 2,650 × 45 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 7,002 total, 6,900 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 3 knots
- Temperature: 154 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19821120070359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821120070359A), Nov 20, 1982: Amtrru VARIEZE, Santa Paula, CA, Destroyed. Struck a building and a tv tower guywire on a downwind takeoff.

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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