Amateur-built VARIEZE accident near Purcell, Oklahoma, April 18, 1984
On April 18, 1984 at about 12:19 pm local time, a amateur-built VARIEZE, registered N26VE, was destroyed in an accident near Purcell, Oklahoma. It was a business 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 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 18, 1984 · about 12:19 pm local time
- Place
- Purcell, Oklahoma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VARIEZE
- Registration
- N26VE · registry record · serial 1362
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE STARTED THE ENG BY USING FUEL FROM THE 2.5 GAL AUX TANK, THEN HE MOVED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE 'BOTH' POSITION. HE TOOK OFF AT ABOUT 0600 CST & CLIMBED TO CRUISE AT 5500 FT MSL. WHILE EN ROUTE, A SHORT TIME LATER, THE ENG 'SPUTTERED BRIEFLY & DIED.' THE PLT TRIED STARTING THE ENG BY ROTATING THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE TO ALL POSITIONS. WHILE DESCENDING THRU 2500 TO 2000 FT, HE FELT THE PROP HAD STOPPED WINDMILLING. SINCE THE ACFT HAD NO ELECTRIC STARTER, HE COULD NOT GET THE PROP TO START TURNING WITHOUT INCREASING THE AIRSPEED. HE TRIED TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING ON A DIRT ROAD, BUT STATED HE WAS 'TRYING TO MANEUVER AROUND & OVER SOME TREE TOPS & I EVIDENTLY STALLED MY CRAFT.' THE ACFT WAS DEMOLISHED DURING IMPACT BESIDE A RAILROAD TRACK. THE PLT RELATED THAT 'EVIDENTLY THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE DIDN'T WORK.' HOWEVER, THIS WAS NOT VERIFIED.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,069 hours in all; 129 in this make and model; 1,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 129 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 14, 1983; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DUC Duncan OK at 12:00 pm
- Destination: RVS Tulsa OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.
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.