Amateur-built Varieze accident near Phillipsburg, Kansas, May 10, 2008
On May 10, 2008 at about 9:50 pm local time, a amateur-built Varieze, registered N6553C, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Phillipsburg, Kansas. 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 pilots failure to maintain aircraft control during an emergency landing. Contributing factors were the reported smoke and prevailing gusty wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 10, 2008 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Phillipsburg, Kansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Varieze
- Registration
- N6553C · no longer on the register · serial 1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While en route to his destination, the non-certificated pilot reported detecting smoke in the cockpit originating near the instrument panel. While attempting to land in gusty wind conditions, the pilot failed to maintain directional control of the airplane resulting in substantial damage to the airplane and serious injuries to the pilot. An inspection of instrument panel failed to indentify the source of smoke. Despite numerous attempts, the pilot failed to provide any additional information.
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
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- factor Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Atwood KS
- Destination: Tolee Summit MO
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 28 knots, gusting 40
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,200 ft; clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from HLC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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 N6553C the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.