Amateur-built VARIEZE accident near Addison, Texas, April 8, 1995
On April 8, 1995 at about 7:40 pm local time, a amateur-built VARIEZE, registered N13WM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Addison, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE JAMMED THROTTLE. FACTORS WERE THE KNOB BECOMING LOOSE AND SEPARATING FROM THE THROTTLE LEVER, AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN AVAILABLE FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 8, 1995 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Addison, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VARIEZE
- Registration
- N13WM · no longer on the register · serial 218
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A 1.5 MILE FINAL APPROACH AT ADDISON AIRPORT (ADS) THE PILOT WAS REQUESTED BY THE TOWER CONTROLLER TO SLOW DOWN FOR TRAFFIC SEQUENCING. POWER WAS REDUCED TO SLOW DOWN. AS THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO INCREASE THROTTLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE, HE NOTICED IT WAS 'JAMMED.' PRIOR TO REDUCING POWER, THE PILOT SAW THAT THE KNOB ASSEMBLY OF THE THROTTLE CONTROL LEVER HAD 'DROPPED OFF.' DURING A LANDING TO AN OPEN FIELD, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A BERM. EXAMINATION OF THE THROTTLE QUADRANT REVEALED THAT THE THROTTLE CONTROL HAD BECOME MISALIGNED. WHEN THE THROTTLE CONTROL WAS ALIGNED, THE THROTTLE WOULD MOVE FULL TRAVEL FORE AND AFT.
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: 2,200 hours in all; 46 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 2,100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,668 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,325 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental O-320-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TKI Mckinney TX at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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 N13WM 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.