# NTSB LAX95LA107: Varga 2150A, N56180, Yuma, AZ, February 12, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 11, 1995, 19:15 local (Feb 12, 1995, 02:15 UTC) - Place: Yuma, AZ - Coordinates: 32.720062, -114.510887 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7201&lon=-114.5109&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report August 31, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29032 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA107 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29032/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA107 ## Probable cause fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection and his failure to refuel the aircraft. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - normal - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly - terrain condition - none suitable ## Analysis THE PILOT IS A RETIRED MILITARY AVIATOR WHO WAS IN THE PROCESS OF QUALIFYING FOR A CIVILIAN PILOT CERTIFICATE. HE SAID THE FUEL TANKS WERE FULL AT DEPARTURE FROM YUMA AND HE DID NOT REFUEL AT ELOY. PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, HE VISUALLY LOOKED INSIDE THE TANKS AND ESTIMATED THAT ABOUT 20 GALLONS OF A 33 USABLE TOTAL WERE AVAILABLE. THE TOTAL ELAPSED FLIGHT TIME FROM DEPARTURE AT YUMA UNTIL THE ACCIDENT WAS CALCULATED TO BE ABOUT 2 HOURS 53 MINUTES. THE PILOT SAID THAT ABOUT 39 MILES FROM YUMA HE CONTACTED YUMA APPROACH FOR RADAR ADVISORIES. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ENGINE QUIT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OVER A MOUNTAINOUS AREA WITHOUT SUITABLE LANDING AREAS AND THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS INTACT WITH NO EVIDENCE OF LEAKAGE. ONLY RESIDUAL FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANKS. THE FUEL LINES TO THE CARBURETOR DID NOT CONTAIN FUEL. AN FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT AND FOUND NO DISCREPANCIES WITH THE AIRFRAME OR ENGINE. THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNITS WERE TESTED AND FOUND TO FUNCTION CORRECTLY. ## Factual narrative On February 11, 1995, at 1915 mountain standard time, a Varga Aircraft Corporation 2150A, N56180, collided with mountainous terrain 18 miles east of Yuma, Arizona, following a loss of engine power. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot and was on a cross-country student solo instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was destroyed in the collision sequence. The student pilot, the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. The flight originated at Yuma, Arizona, on the day of the accident at 1200 hours, flew to Eloy, Arizona, and was returning to Yuma when the accident occurred. The pilot is a retired military aviator who was in the process of qualifying for a civilian pilot certificate. According to his statement, the fuel tanks were full at departure from Yuma. The pilot did not refuel at Eloy following arrival at 1323. He stated that prior to departure at 1745, he visually looked inside the tanks and estimated that about 20 gallons were available. The fuel capacity of the aircraft is 33 gallons usable. The total elapsed flight time from departure at Yuma until the accident was calculated to be about 2 hours 53 minutes. The pilot stated that about 39 miles from Yuma he contacted Yuma approach for radar advisories. Shortly thereafter, the engine quit. The aircraft was over a mountainous area without suitable landing areas and the aircraft collided with the mountainous terrain. A search and rescue helicopter from the U.S. Marine Corps base at Yuma responded to the site and rescued the pilot. According to the aircraft retrieval firm who recovered the wreckage from the accident site, the fuel system was intact with no evidence of leakage. Only residual fuel was found in the fuel tanks. The fuel lines to the carburetor did not contain fuel. A Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector from the Scottsdale, Arizona, Flight Standards District Office examined the aircraft. He reported that he did not find any discrepancies with the airframe or engine. The fuel tank sending units were tested and found to function correctly. ## Aircraft - Registration: N56180 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Varga 2150A - Category: Airplane - Serial number: VAC-160-80 - Airframe hours: 918 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A2D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Kenneth C. Batey - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 10, 1995, 8 hours before - Departed: E60, ELOY, AZ - Destination: YUM ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; student, military; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 1,078 total, 8 in this make and model, 947 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 210° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: YUM, 18 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 19950211001549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950211001549A), Feb 11, 1995: Varga 2150AMORISY, Yuma, AZ, Destroyed. Retired military pilot trying obtain civil license. Ran out of fuel en route. Collided with mountainous terrain. 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.