# NTSB SEA94LA015: Varga 2150A, N5074V, Burns, OR, October 10, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 10, 1993, 08:05 local (15:05 UTC) - Place: Burns, OR - Coordinates: 43.589782, -118.889633 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5898&lon=-118.8896&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report September 26, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 41840 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA015 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41840/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=41840 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA015 ## Probable cause POOR IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION AND AN INADVERTENT STALL/SPIN. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS AN EXCESSIVE PULL-UP. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause) - pull-up - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor) - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis WHILE MANEUVERING OVER THE AIRSTRIP AT LOW LEVEL AND HIGH SPEED, WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE SUDDENLY PULL NEARLY STRAIGHT UP AND HOLD A HIGH ANGLE OF ATTACK UNTIL THE AIRPLANE WOULD NOT CLIMB ANY FURTHER. THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE THEN DROPPED AND IT STARTED A SPIN TO THE LEFT. THE AIRPLANE REMAINED IN THIS ATTITUDE UNTIL COLLISION WITH THE TERRAIN. NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND TO INDICATE A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 10, 1993, at 0805 Pacific daylight time, a Varga 2150A, N5074V, collided with the terrain shortly after takeoff from a private airstrip located 70 miles south of Burns, Oregon. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The airplane was destroyed and the certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. Some witnesses at the fly-in reported that the airplane had just taken off, while others stated that the airplane had made a few low passes over the airstrip. During the last pass, all of the witnesses stated that the airplane was travelling at a high rate of speed (approximately 100 miles per hour) and low level, when it suddenly pulled nearly straight up and attained an altitude of several hundred feet. The witnesses stated that it kept climbing at a high angle of attack until it seemed to stop climbing. The nose of the airplane then dropped and the attitude of the airplane momentarily leveled off horizontal to the ground. The nose of the airplane then dropped near vertical to the horizon and the airplane spun to the left. The airplane collided with the terrain in a nose down attitude. One witness reported that the engine was at idle power during the descent, while another reported that the engine was "wide open." PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot's flight logbook indicates that the first flight in the Varga was on October 8, 1991, and all flights since that date were in the Varga. The last logged flight was on October 1, 1992. At that time, the logbook indicates a total flight time of 302 hours in all types of airplanes. The total flight time in the Varga was listed as 42 hours. In a written statement, a friend of the pilot's stated that in the past year he had flown with the pilot approximately 20 to 25 hours, with 10 hours in the last 90 days prior to the accident. The Federal Aviation Administration Medical records indicate that the pilot held a Class III medical certificate dated October 22, 1990, with a limitation for corrective lenses. On October 23, 1992, the pilot was denied the reissuance of a medical certificate due to evidence of coronary artery disease. The FAA does not show an update to the October 23, 1992, medical records. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector from the Hillsboro, Oregon, Flight Standards District Office inspected the airplane and reported that control continuity was established from the elevator to the cockpit controls. The tubing was bent and one break in the system was noted near the center of the airplane. The elevators were free to move and unobstructed. The engine was examined and found that the propeller broke away as a unit from the crankshaft in the area of the front main bearing. The propeller blades were straight. Further examination did not reveal evidence to indicate a mechanical failure or malfunction. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION The autopsy was performed by the Central Oregon Pathology Consultants, Bend, Oregon. The report stated that the heart was severely damaged and evaluation of the coronary arteries was not possible. Toxicological samples were sent to the Federal Aviation Administration Civil Aeromedical Institute, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for analysis. The result of the analysis was negative findings. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5074V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5074V-2013-08-15), registration cancelled 2013-08-15, S/N VAC-63-76, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: VARGA 2150A - Registry model: [Varga 2150A](https://openairdocs.org/model/varga-2150a) (registry code 9350102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: VAC-63-76 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2C 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Grimm, Thomas E. - Registered owner: Grimm, Thomas E. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 23, 1993 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 302 total, 42 in this make and model, 258 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 3 knots - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BNO, 70 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 19931010038369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931010038369A), Oct 10, 1993: Varga 2150AMORISY, Burns Junction, OR, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Observed low passes over private strip then vertical pullup. Stalled. Spun vertically to ground. Coronary disease. ## Other investigations on N5074V (1) 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. - [NTSB SEA86LA185](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA86LA185), Jul 31, 1986: Varga 2150A (N5074V), Everett, WA, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 6, 1995, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=41840. 2.2 MB in all. - Witness Statements (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387749&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Statement of Earl Radford (item 2, .PDF, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387748&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Earl%20Radford-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector's Report (item 3, .PDF, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387750&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 4, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387751&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Redacted.PDF 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.