Amateur-built VARI-EZE accident near Wilkesboro, North Carolina, September 6, 1986
On September 6, 1986 at about 5:26 pm local time, a amateur-built VARI-EZE, registered N547EZ, was destroyed in an accident near Wilkesboro, North Carolina (Wilkes County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- September 6, 1986 · about 5:26 pm local time
- Place
- Wilkesboro, North Carolina · Wilkes County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VARI-EZE
- Registration
- N547EZ · no longer on the register · serial 228
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT SAID HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A GO AROUND DUE TO OTHER ACFT ON THE RWY. WHEN THROTTLE WAS ADVANCED ENGINE REMAINED AT IDLE POWER. PLT ELECTED TO LAND IN CORN FIELD AT END OF RWY. ON LANDING ROLL ACFT NOSED OVER INVERTED. LATER EXAM OF ENGINE SHOWED THROTTLE ARM WORN WHICH WEDGED ARM IN IDLE POSITION. THROTTLE SPRING COULD NOT OVERCOME WEDGED POSITION TO PULL THROTTLE ARM TO FULLY OPEN POSITION. PLT ACC REPORT NOT COMPLETE FOR FLT TIME.
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: 10 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 17 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 175 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1986; 10 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Gallipolis OH at 4:45 pm
- Destination: CDN Camden SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 4,250 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°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.