Amateur-built VARI EZE accident near Innsbruck, At, April 29, 2018
On April 29, 2018 at about 8:19 am local time, a amateur-built VARI EZE, registered HBYCM, was destroyed in an accident during initial climb near Innsbruck. It was flown under non-U.S. private rules. 2 people were killed.
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
- April 29, 2018 · about 8:19 am local time
- Place
- Innsbruck, Austria
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VARI EZE NO SERIES
- Registration
- HBYCM · no longer on the register · serial 2202V
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On April 29, 2018, about 0819 hours universal coordinated time, an amateur-built Vari-Eze airplane, Swiss registration HB-YCM, impacted terrain shortly after takeoff from the Innsbruck Airport (LOWI), Innsbruck, Austria. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was destroyed. The flight departed from LOWI shortly before the accident, with an intended destination of Portorož Airport (LJPZ), Portorož, Slovenia.The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (STSB). This report is for informational purposes and contains information released by or obtained from the government of Switzerland. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (STSB) Aviation Divison Aéropôle 1 CH-1530 Payerne Switzerland Telephone: +41 58 466 33 00 Facsimile: +41 58 466 33 01 E-mail: info-av@sust.admin.ch Website: www.stsb.admin.ch
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
What happened, in order
- Unknown or undetermined during initial climb defining event
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,058 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine:; 0 hours total
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.