- Date
- August 1, 1988, 23:15 local (Aug 2, 1988, 04:15 UTC)
- Place
- Washington, IA
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N8259JVarga 2150A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report October 2, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19880801029259A
- Case key
- 34621
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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.
Analysis
While enroute the PIC rptd a loss of eng pwr. The PIC stated in his rpt that having passed Washington, IA, he switched fuel tanks to draw fuel from the lft tank which indicated 1/2 full. Shortly after switching, the PIC stated the tank went empty. The PIC then switched on the other tank which had indicated 1/4 full. Shortly after doing so, the eng quit and the PIC attempted to glide to the Washington, IA, arpt. The acft clipped a powerline guy wire during the forced landing and crashed short into a farm implement sales lot. Insp of the acft revealed less than 1 gal total fuel quantity. No leaks or rupture of fuel system hardware was found which could explain the low quantity of fuel in the system.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8259J
- Reported as
- Varga 2150A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- VAC-105-78
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-A, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- George L. Seyb
- Registered owner
- Coy Co. Air Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 1, 1988 · 15 hours before
- Departed
- Oshkosh, WI
- Destination
- Memphis, MI
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 66
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,138 total · 260 in this make and model · 36 in the last 90 days · 22 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CID
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.