# NTSB LAX86LUQ02: Rutan Varieze, N36RJ, Los Almos, CA, February 10, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: February 9, 1986, 16:30 local (Feb 10, 1986, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Los Almos, CA
- Coordinates: 34.730049, -120.239433 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7300&lon=-120.2394&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25272
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX86LUQ02
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25272/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86LUQ02

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - fence (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A FENCE DURING A FORCED LANDING ON A HIWAY AFTER THE ENGINE LOST POWER WHILE CRUISING AT 6500 FT MSL. THE PLT HAD REFUELED WITH 10 GALS OF FUEL AT SANTA BARBARA, CA HIS LAST DEPARTURE POINT. POST ACC EXAM SHOWED THE FUEL TANKS, LINES AND CARBURETOR EMPTY OF FUEL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N36RJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N36RJ-1989-03-06), registration cancelled 1989-03-06, S/N 130 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RUTAN VARIEZE
- Registry model: [Johnston Ray VARIEZE](https://openairdocs.org/model/johnston-ray-varieze) (registry code 05609BG) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 130
- Airframe hours: 320
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Richard N. Link
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, September 10, 1985, 18 hours before
- Departed: SBA, SANTA BARBARA
- Destination: SJC, SAN JOSE, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 74; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 2,000 total, 35 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19860209017759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860209017759A), Feb 9, 1986: Amtrru VARIEZE, Los Alamos, CA, Substantial damage. Engine quit at cruise. Landed on a road and struck a fence. Fuel exhaustion suspected.

## Other investigations on N36RJ (1)

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.

- [NTSB LAX83LA286](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83LA286), Jun 5, 1983: Johnson VARI-EZE (N36RJ), Palo Alto, CA, substantial damage

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.