# NTSB MIA79FLD99: Varieze Rutan, N78PD, Lake Wales, FL, September 25, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: September 25, 1979
- Place: Lake Wales, FL · LAKE WALES, FL
- Location: 27.9203° N, 81.5996° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lake Wales, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9203&lon=-81.5996&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 4, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 132741
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA79FLD99
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA79FLD99

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3804  79/9/25    LAKE WALES,FL       VARIEZE RUTAN       CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 58, 6000
        TIME - 1415                    N78PD               PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 23 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - LAKE WALES
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LAKE WALES,FL               LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL                                                    TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPONTANEOUS-IMPROPER ACTION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        FACTOR(S)
           AIRFRAME - FUSELAGE: WINDSHIELDS,WINDOWS,CANOPIES
        REMARKS- PLT RETARDED THROTTLE WHEN CANOPY BLEW OPEN ON INITIAL CLIMB FOR UNK REASON.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N78PD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N78PD-1982-08-30), registration cancelled 1982-08-30, S/N 1610 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: VARIEZE RUTAN
- Registry model: [Hess-Fleming VARI-EZE](https://openairdocs.org/model/hess-fleming-vari-eze) (registry code 05609S9) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Lake Wales

## 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 19790925030199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790925030199A), Sep 25, 1979: Amtrru VARIEZE, Lake Wales, FL, Destroyed. Aircraft canopy opened on takeoff. Pilot lost control on landing.

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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