Amateur-built VariEze accident near New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, September 4, 2005
On September 4, 2005 at about 9:54 pm local time, a amateur-built VariEze, registered N220EZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Cumberland, Pennsylvania. 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 owner/builder's inadequate fuel tank inspection during construction, which resulted in fuel contamination and subsequent fuel starvation to the engine.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 4, 2005 · about 9:54 pm local time
- Place
- New Cumberland, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VariEze
- Registration
- N220EZ · registry record · serial 32050
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane had been airborne for about 5 minutes when the engine lost power. The pilot then force landed in a field, and the airplane nosed over. During a post-accident examination, the propeller was replaced, and the engine was started and operated for about 5 minutes at 1,700 rpm. The fuel system was also examined, and the fuel screens in both fuel tanks were found to be covered in a "fine muddy silt," consistent with mud dauber activity. A subsequent fuel analysis revealed that particulate contamination and gum levels were "very high." The fuel tanks had been open during the airplane's construction, and the airplane had about 30 hours of operation at the time of the accident.
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: 70 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 30 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 1, 2005; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CXY New Cumberland PA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from CXY, 3 miles away
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number IAD05LA147.