Amateur-built VARIVIGGEN accident near Falcon, Colorado, May 7, 1989
On May 7, 1989 at about 2:30 pm local time, a amateur-built VARIVIGGEN, registered N34VV, was destroyed in an accident near Falcon, Colorado (Meadowlake airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE CONTROL CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS NEWLY COMPLETED HOMEBUILT. THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE PROPER CONTROL INPUTS AND THE LACK OF INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE AIRCRAFT KIT MANUFACTURER ARE CONSIDERED AS CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 7, 1989 · about 2:30 pm local time · cases in 1989
- Place
- Falcon, Colorado · Meadowlake · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VARIVIGGEN
- Registration
- N34VV · registry record · serial 550
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THIS WAS THE MAIDEN FLT FOR THIS NEWLY COMPLETED HOMEBUILT. IT WAS ALSO THE FIRST FLT IN THIS MAKE/MDL FOR THE PLT. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE ACFT WENT THROUGH SEVERAL RADICAL PITCH CHANGES IMMEDIATELY AFTER LIFT OFF BEFORE NOSE DIVING INTO THE GROUND NEAR THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY. ACCORDING TO THE DESIGNER OF THE ACFT, THE REAR MOUNTED ENG RESULTS IN A NOSE DOWN TENDENCY DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL AND THE STICK MUST BE HELD AFT. AFTER THE ACFT BECOMES AIRBORNE AND BEGINS TO ACCELERATE THE STICK FORCES BECOME NORMAL. HE SAID THE COMPANY ENCOURAGES PLTS TO TAKE AN ORIENTATION RIDE WITH SOMEONE FAMILIAR WITH THE ACFT PRIOR TO THEIR FIRST FLT. THE PLT IN THIS CASE HAD NOT HAD AN ORIENTATION RIDE.
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: 191 hours in all; 2 in the last 90 days; 138 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 3, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 1,860 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 00V at 3:30 pm
- Destination: 00V
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 4,150 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°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.
Other NTSB records under N34VV the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N34VV on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A 601 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in Colorado 2,860 since 1982 · 383 in the last ten years
- Colorado 7,486 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N34VV 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/DEN89DTE03.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.