# NTSB SEA97LA068: Hemingway Varieze, N36P, Arlington, WA, February 24, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 24, 1997, 12:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Arlington, WA - Coordinates: 48.179824, -121.670936 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1798&lon=-121.6709&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 10, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42570 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA97LA068 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42570/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA068 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft. Factors contributing to the accident were the pilot's lack of total experience in the type of aircraft and the gusty wind conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, taxi - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot, who reported approximately 132 hours of flight experience of which one and three-quarters hour were in this make/model aircraft, intended to conduct high speed taxi tests of the aircraft, and then transition directly to a flight test. During the first taxi test run down the runway the pilot rotated and 'the aircraft lifted off rapidly and steeply.' The pilot reported that he was able to successfully re-land but felt that he had 'over-controlled' the aircraft.' After returning to the threshold of runway 34 he initiated a second taxi run down the runway and reported that 'just before I planned to shut down the engine it (the aircraft) lifted off just as abruptly as the first time at a very steep attitude, also higher than before, about 20 feet.' During the attempted recovery the aircraft struck the runway nose down and left wing low and slid to a stop. An observer to the accident located near an adjacent taxiway reported a wind gust coincident with the time of the second nose rotation. Winds at the Arlington airport were reported as 300 degrees magnetic at 10 knots at 1253 hours. ## Factual narrative On February 24, 1997, approximately 1245 Pacific standard time, a homebuilt Hemingway Varieze, N36P, registered to and being operated by the builder, a private pilot, was substantially damaged during a loss of control while executing a high speed taxi run on runway 34 at the Arlington airport, Arlington, Washington. The pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions existed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was a test taxi/flight, was to have been operated under 14CFR91, and was to have been local. The pilot reported to an FAA inspector that he intended to conduct high speed taxi tests of the aircraft, and then transition directly to a flight test. During the first taxi test run down the runway the pilot rotated and "the aircraft lifted off rapidly and steeply." The pilot reported that he was able to successfully re-land and felt that he had "over-controlled" the aircraft. The pilot returned to the threshold of runway 34 and initiated a second taxi run down the runway. He reported that "just before I planned to shut down the engine it (the aircraft) lifted off just as abruptly as the first time at a very steep attitude, also higher than before, about 20 feet." The aircraft struck the runway nose down and left wing low and slid to a stop. The pilot reported approximately 132 hours of flight experience of which one and three-quarters hour were in this make/model aircraft. An observer to the accident located near an adjacent taxiway reported a wind gust coincident with the time of the second nose rotation. Winds at the Arlington airport were reported as 300 degrees magnetic at 10 knots at 1253 hours. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N36P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N36P), registered now, S/N 1271, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Hemingway VARIEZE - Registry model: [Hemingway James R VARIEZE](https://openairdocs.org/model/hemingway-james-r-varieze) (registry code 05626FR) (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: 1271 - Airframe hours: 6 - Engines: Continental O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: Hemingway, James, R. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, February 24, 1997, 6 hours before - Airport: AWO, Arlington Municipal, runway 34, 5,333 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 132 total, 2 in this make and model, 132 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: AWO ## 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 19970224001849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970224001849A), Feb 24, 1997: Amtrru VARIEZE, Arlington, WA, Substantial damage. (.4) The pilot, who reported approximately 132 hours of flight experience of which one and three-quarters hour were in this make/model aircraft, intended to… 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.