# NTSB MKC89DCG02: Wells Varieze, N66WR, Macon, MO, January 5, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: January 5, 1989, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Macon, MO
- Coordinates: 39.730583, -92.46923 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7306&lon=-92.4692&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 18, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34653
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC89DCG02
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34653/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC89DCG02

## Probable cause

CONTINUED FLIGHT BY THE PILOT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE/CLEARANCE ABOVE OBSTACLES. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: LOW CEILING, FOG, RAIN, PILOT DELAYING FLIGHT TO AN ALTERNATE DESTINATION, HIS LACK OF RECENT FLIGHT EXPERIENCE, HIS LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE TYPE OF AIRCRAFT, AND TREES.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, cruise
  - fuel system - leak
  - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT HAD JUST PURCHASED THE ACFT & WAS FERRYING IT FROM ALLEGAN, MI, TO HIS HOME ARPT AT KANSAS CITY, MO. AN EN ROUTESTOP WAS MADE AT PEORIA, IL, WHERE HE REFUELED & CHECKED THE WX. AT PEORIA, FBO PSNL NOTED HE HAD FUEL ON THE SEAT OF HIS PANTS. HE SAID FUEL HAD GOTTEN ON HIS SEAT CUSHION FROM A LEAK AT THE TOP OF A FUEL SIGHT GAUGE (NEAR THE AFT SEAT).HE HAD THE ACFT REFUELED IN A LVL ATTITUDE (RATHER THAN THE USUAL NOSE LOW ATTITUDE) TO KEEP FUEL FROM LEAKING FROM THE GAUGE. BFR DEPG ON THE 2ND LEG OF THE FLT, THE PLT COMMENTED HE WOULD LIKE TO BEAT THE WX TO HIS HOME. DRG FLT, THE ACFTHIT A TREE, WHILE ON A NNW HDG NR MACON, MO, THEN CRASHED & BURNED. IT WAS FND ON 5/5/89. INV REVEALED THERE WAS A LOW CEILING IN THE AREA. APRX 24 MI NORTH AT KIRKSVILLE, MO, THE WX WAS IN PART: 500' OVC, 2 MI VIS WITH LIGHT RAIN & FOG. EXCEPT FOR THE RPRTD FUEL LEAK, NO EVIDENCE WAS FND OF A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. BEFORE THE PLT LEFT ALLEGAN,HE HAD NO PREVIOUS FLT TIME IN THIS MAKE & MODEL OF ACFT & HAD NOT LOGGED ANY FLT TIME SINCE 8/10/88.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N66WR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N66WR-2013-07-23), registration cancelled 2013-07-23, S/N 328, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WELLS VARIEZE
- Registry model: [Wells-Rock VARIEZE](https://openairdocs.org/model/wells-rock-varieze) (registry code 05609L3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 328
- Airframe hours: 35
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Ferry, Part 91
- Operator: Wilson, Duane A.
- Registered owner: Harold J. Wells/Floyd G. Rock
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, October 28, 1988
- Departed: PIA, PEORIA, IL
- Destination: MKC, KANSAS CITY, MO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 1,409 total, 1 in this make and model, 1,305 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Day
- Wind: 150° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: IRK, 24 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 19890105011949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890105011949A), Jan 5, 1989: Amtrru VARIEZE, Macon, MO, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Indicates aircraft was flown into trees at cruise speed while pilot was engaged in trying to stay celar of clouds.

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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