# NTSB LAX87LA076: Varga 2150A, N5076V, Hayward, CA, January 5, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 4, 1987, 22:37 local (Jan 5, 1987, 06:37 UTC)
- Place: Hayward, CA
- Coordinates: 37.670799, -122.080093 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6708&lon=-122.0801&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 13, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25496
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87LA076
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25496/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87LA076

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
  - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions
  - light condition - dark night
  - terrain condition - high obstruction(s)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

AFTER RTRNG FM A FLT, THE PLT TOOK OFF AGAIN (USING RWY 28L) & TURNED TO THE SE. A WITNESS (SE OF THE ARPT), SAID HE SAWTHE ACFT AT LOW ALT (ESTD 100 TO 200 FT) FLYING IN HIS DRCTN. HE NOTED NO OTR INDCN OF A PROBLEM UNTIL AFTER THE ACFT MADE A 'VERY SHARP BANKING TURN TO THE LEFT' & REVERSED DRCTN BACK TO THE ARPT. THE WITNESS SAID THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TURN WAS COMPLETED, THE ENG SPUTTERED & THE ACFT SUDDENLY ENTERED A STEEP DSCNT & CRASHED. IMPACT OCCURRED NEAR THE APCH END OF RWY 28L. BFR GND IMPACT, THE ACFT HIT PWR LINES, CAUSING A PWR OUTAGE IN THE AREA. THE FUEL SYS WAS CONFIG- URED FOR BOTH TANKS TO FEED. ONE FUEL TANK WAS FND EMPTY, THE OTR HAD APRX 5 GAL REMAINING; HOWEVER, THE AMOUNT OF FUEL THAT MAY HAVE LEAKED AFTER THE CRASH WAS NOT VERIFIED. AN ENG TEAR DOWN SHOWED NO INDCN OF A PREIMPACT MECH FAILURE, BUTTHE CARB HEAT WAS FND IN THE 'OFF' PSN. TEMP & DEW POINT WERE 47 & 45 DEG, RESPECTIVELY. ICING PROBABILITY CHARTS SHOWEDTHAT SERIOUS CARB ICING COULD HAVE OCCURRED WHILE AT A CRUISE OR GLIDE POWER SETTING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5076V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5076V-1989-08-22), registration cancelled 1989-08-22, S/N VAC6577 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: VARGA 2150A
- Registry model: [Varga 2150A](https://openairdocs.org/model/varga-2150a) (registry code 9350102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: VAC6577
- Airframe hours: 2032
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2C 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Action Aviation
- Registered owner: Donald H Hosmer
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, December 6, 1986, 5 hours before
- Departed: HWD
- Airport: HWD, Hayward Air Terminal, runway 28L, 5,019 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 145 total, 145 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: OAK, 7 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 19870104000129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870104000129A), Jan 4, 1987: Varga 2150AMORISY, Hayward, CA, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Observed at low altitude. Stalled in a steep bank. Near vertical impact. Engine sputtered,one tank empty, other low

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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