Amateur-built VARI-EZE accident near Albemarle, North Carolina, July 9, 1985
On July 9, 1985 at about 8:30 pm local time, a amateur-built VARI-EZE, registered N450Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Albemarle, North Carolina (Stanley County 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 visual conditions (good weather).
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 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 9, 1985 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Albemarle, North Carolina · Stanley County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VARI-EZE
- Registration
- N450Z · registry record · serial 245481059
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENG LOST POWER AS THE PLT MADE A LEFT TURN. HE TRIED TO GLIDE BACK TO THE RWY, BUT WAS UNABLE. THE ACFT WAS LANDED IN A FIELD ABOUT 300 YDS SHORT OF THE RWY. DURING THE LANDING, ALL 3 GEAR WERE TORN OFF THE ACFT, AND THE FUSELAGE, A FUEL TANK & THE CANOPY WERE CRACKED. THE PLT STATED THAT THE ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY WATER IN THE CARBURETOR. ALSO HE STATED THAT HE HAD CHECKED BOTH FUEL TANKS BEFORE HE TOOK OFF; AFTER THE ACDNT, HE CHECKED THE FUEL BOWL & IT WAS FULL OF WATER.
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: 235 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 185 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 26 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 2, 1985; 26 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6A6 at 8:28 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 4,400 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.