# NTSB MIA79DLA20: Rutan Vari Viggen, N88RC, New Smyrna, FL, April 24, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: April 24, 1979
- Place: New Smyrna, FL · NEW SMYRNA, FL
- Location: 29.0503° N, 80.9331° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of New Smyrna, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0503&lon=-80.9331&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 10, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 135848
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA79DLA20
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA79DLA20

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1678  79/4/24    NEW SMYRNA,FL       RUTAN VARI VIGGEN   CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 63, 223
        TIME - 1100                    N88RC               PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 20 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - NEW SMYRNA BEACH
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          NEW SMYRNA,FL               LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - PRODUCTION-DESIGN-PERSONNEL: OTHER
           AIRFRAME - LANDING GEAR: MAIN GEAR-SHOCK ABSORBING ASSY,STRUTS,ATTACHMENTS,ETC.
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
        REMARKS- ALUMINUM RIVETS IN TURNBUCKLES FAILED.BOUGHT FM SURPLUS STORE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N88RC (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: RUTAN VARI VIGGEN
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: New Smyrna Beach

## 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 19790424007109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790424007109A), Apr 24, 1979: Amtrru VARIVIGGEN, New Smyrna Beac, FL, Substantial damage. Gear collapse on landing. Homebuilt acft. Builder used aluminum rivets to assemble surplus store turnbuckles

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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