Amateur-built VARIEZE accident near Portland, Texas, January 16, 1993
On January 16, 1993 at about 5:40 pm local time, a amateur-built VARIEZE, registered N90LH, was destroyed in an accident near Portland, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO CARBURETOR ICING AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 16, 1993 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Portland, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VARIEZE
- Registration
- N90LH · registry record · serial 956
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE MANEUVERING OVER WATER THE ENGINE LOST POWER DUE TO CARBURETOR ICE. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, WITHOUT SUCCESS. HE ATTEMPTED TO GLIDE TO THE SHORELINE, HOWEVER, HE WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. HE ELECTED TO LAND THE AIRPLANE IN THE WATER. ACCORDING TO THE ICING PROBABILITY CHART THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE TO SERIOUS CARBURETOR ICING. TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT WERE 67 AND 55 DEGREES RESPECTIVELY
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,749 hours in all; 47 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 1,749 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 550 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 23, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.