Amateur-built VARI VIGGEN accident near Greenville, Illinois, September 29, 1991
On September 29, 1991 at about 11:00 pm local time, a amateur-built VARI VIGGEN, registered N22VV, was substantially damaged in an accident near Greenville, Illinois (Greenville Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER MAINTENANCE INSTALLATION OF THE PROPELLER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 29, 1991 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Greenville, Illinois · Greenville Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VARI VIGGEN VARI VIGGE
- Registration
- N22VV · registry record · serial 204
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AN OWNER BUILT EXPERIMENTAL AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED SEPARATION OF THE WOODEN PROPELLER DURING CLIMB FROM TAKEOFF. EXAMINATION OF THE FAILED ATTACHMENT BOLTS SHOWED THE NUTS HAD BOTTOMED AGAINST THE UNTHREADED SHANK WHILE CLINCHING THE PROPELLER HUB TO ITS FLANGE.
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: 1,293 hours in all; 220 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,251 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 228 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, April 2, 1991; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 3K4 Hillsboro IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 7°F (-14°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.