Amateur-built DUNCAN/VARIEZE accident near Ocracoke, North Carolina, March 30, 1985
On March 30, 1985 at about 4:45 pm local time, a amateur-built DUNCAN/VARIEZE, registered N9329A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ocracoke, North Carolina (Ocra Coke-Island airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 30, 1985 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Ocracoke, North Carolina · Ocra Coke-Island · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DUNCAN/VARIEZE DUNCAN/VAR
- Registration
- N9329A · registry record · serial 1291
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING LANDING, THE TAB WHICH CONNECTS THE LANDING GEAR CROSS TUBE FAILED ALLOWING THE RIGHT GEAR TO COLLAPSE. THE ACFT HAS AN EXPERIMENTAL CERTIFICATE. THE FAILURE APPEARED TO BE DUE TO DESIGN LIMITATIONS.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 355 hours in all; 160 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 236 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 232 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 15, 1984; 91 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,110 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Charlotte NC at 2:45 pm
- Destination: W95 Ocracoke NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:19 pm from HAT, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL85LA128.