# NTSB SEA03LA002: Gentry Vari-Eze, N24BG, Shine, WA, October 12, 2002

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 12, 2002, 12:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Shine, WA
- Coordinates: 47.86639, -122.683334
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.8664&lon=-122.6833&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 25, 2003
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 55880
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA03LA002
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55880/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA002

## Probable cause

Loss of engine power for undetermined reasons during cruise.  Trees and objects near the roadway were factors.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, cruise
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, emergency descent/landing
- On ground/water collision with object, emergency descent/landing
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

It was reported that the pilot was flying with a group of other aircraft when he radioed that he was having engine problems.  During the forced landing on a rural residential road, the pilot took evasive action to avoid a collision with a vehicle that pulled out onto the road.  The aircraft subsequently collided with objects near the road and nosed over, coming to rest inverted.  A post-accident engine inspection and engine run revealed no evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction.

## Factual narrative

On October 12, 2002, approximately 1200 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Gentry Vari-Eze, N24BG, registered to and operated by the private pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, experienced a loss of engine power and subsequently collided with objects and the terrain near Shine, Washington.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed.  The aircraft was substantially damaged and the pilot was seriously injured.  The flight departed from Auburn, Washington, at an unknown time and was en route to Port Townsend, Washington.

It was reported that the pilot was flying with a group of other aircraft when he radioed that he was having engine problems.  During the forced landing on a rural residential road, the pilot took evasive action to avoid a collision with a vehicle that pulled out onto the road.  The aircraft subsequently collided with objects near the road and nosed over, coming to rest inverted.

The wreckage was recovered to Arlington, Washington.  On November 8, 2002, investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration inspected the engine.  The engine remained attached to the firewall.  A fuel supply was added and the engine was started.  The engine was found to run smooth.  Power was increased to 1100 rpm.   A magneto check was accomplished with no anomalies noted.  Carburetor heat was applied and the engine continued to run smooth for about 5 minutes before it was shut down.

At the time of this writing, the pilot has not responded to the National Transportation Safety Board or completed the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report Form 6120.1/2.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N24BG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N24BG-2005-02-25), registration cancelled 2005-02-25, S/N 1140, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Gentry Vari-Eze
- Registry model: [Gentry-Robert VARI-EZE](https://openairdocs.org/model/gentry-robert-vari-eze) (registry code 05609V8) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1140
- Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Kenton J. McCormack
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: S50, Auburn, WA
- Destination: 0S9, Port Townsend, WA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 10 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.45 inHg
- Observed at: PWT, 20 nm away

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.