- Date
- December 5, 1982, 13:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place
- Riverside, CA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N1182ZVarieze Ruatan
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 5, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19821205062189A
- Case key
- 72397
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Witnesses stated he heard and saw the aircraft flying (rather slow and low) over the canyon. He heard the engine "sputtering" and then observed the aircraft appear to stall followed by a steep descent into the hilly terrain. Investigation revealed the aircraft struck the ground in a steep nose low attitude at the 1300 foot level on a steep hillside and exploded. Post impact fire destroyed all but portions of the left and right wing, winglets, engine propeller hub, air scoop and portions of the cockpit instrumentation. The basic engine showed no preimpact failure and ample lubrication was evident. Both magnetos functioned properly. The fuel gascolator bowl was contaminated, as werethe filter screens, with what appeared to be fiberglass/epoxy resin shavings and dust.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1182Z
- Reported as
- Varieze Ruatan
- Category
- Unknown, amateur-built
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-C1B, 2,600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Lloyd J Macdowell, Jr.
- Registered owner
- Lloyd J Macdowell, Jr.
- Departed
- Riverside, CA
- Destination
- Riverside, CA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 38
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 107 total · 8 in this make and model · 13 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Temperature
- 162 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- RIV, 15 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.