LAX91FA251

NTSB accident investigation · Varga 2150A · Livermore, CA · June 7, 1991

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report
Date
June 7, 1991, 10:21 local (17:21 UTC)
Place
Livermore, CA
Injuries
1 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Maneuvering
Aircraft
N8272JVarga 2150A
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report July 23, 1993
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19910607020419A
Case key
27006

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

An inflight collision with terrain for undetermined reasons.

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.

In flight collision with terrain/waterManeuvering
Reason for occurrence undeterminedCause

Analysis

While on a local flight the pilot declared an emergency, reporting that he smelled oil and the cockpit was heating up. After radio contact was lost, a search located the airplane crashed into a rocky hill. The airplane struck the hill at high rate of speed in a slight nose and left wing low attitude. An open, grass covered field surrounded the hill. No mechanical malfunctions/failures of the engine or airframe were found. The pilot had been taking medication for several years for headaches which were not reported to the FAA. Eleven months prior to the accident, the pilot had surgery for lung cancer. Three months prior to the accident, the cancer reoccurred in the pilot's brain. The pilot declined radiation therapy and relied on medication therapy. Four days prior to the accident, the pilot reported weakness and lack of energy and was advised to increase his medication. The pilot continued to fly while being treated for his illness.

Aircraft

Registration
N8272J
Reported as
Varga 2150A
Category
Airplane
Serial number
VAC-118-79
Airframe hours
1,113
Engine
Lycoming O-320-A2C, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Parker, Claron E.
Registered owner
Parker, Claron E.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · August 4, 1991 · 24 hours before

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
59
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Front
Toxicology
Performed
Flight hours
830 total · 256 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Visibility
15 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
LVK, 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.