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 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 29, 1991 · about 11:00 pm local time · cases in 1991
- Place
- Greenville, Illinois · Greenville Municipal · cases near this airport · 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N22VV on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A 98 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Greenville Airport · nearest airport
- Borth Field · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Illinois 2,117 since 1982 · 250 in the last ten years
- Illinois 8,055 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CHI91DEV05.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.