# NTSB SEA81FA029: Varieze Rutan, N37LL, Elma, WA, April 18, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: April 18, 1981
- Place: Elma, WA · ELMA, WA
- Location: 47.0050° N, 123.4107° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Elma, WA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.0050&lon=-123.4107&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report May 5, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126637
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA81FA029
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA81FA029

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0518  81/4/18    ELMA,WA             VARIEZE RUTAN       CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 40, 141
        TIME - 1545                    N37LL               PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 77 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - ELMA MUNI
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          ELMA,WA                     LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           UNDERSHOOT                                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE,SPEED,AND ALTITUDE
        REMARKS- RETRACTABLE NOSE GEAR,FXD MAIN.LNDD IN SWAMPY TRRN SHORT OF RWY.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N37LL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N37LL-2014-11-26), registration cancelled 2014-11-26, S/N 1237, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: VARIEZE RUTAN
- Registry model: [Lovelace Vernon James VARIEZE](https://openairdocs.org/model/lovelace-vernon-james-varieze) (registry code 05609DE) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Elma Muni

## 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 19810418017669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810418017669A), Apr 18, 1981: Amtrru VARIEZE, Elma, WA, Destroyed. Aircraft crashed short of runway during 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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