Amateur-built Varieze accident near Rio Linda, California, August 25, 2002
On August 25, 2002 at about 3:00 am local time, a amateur-built Varieze, registered N42231, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rio Linda, California (Rio Linda airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the loss of engine power caused by fuel exhaustion due to a fuel tank leak. Also causal was the inadequate maintenance performed on the repair of the fuel tank by unknown maintenance personnel.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 25, 2002 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Rio Linda, California · Rio Linda · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Varieze
- Registration
- N42231 · no longer on the register · serial 788
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The experimental amateur-built airplane lost engine power while the student pilot was turning onto an extended final approach. The airplane impacted trees and terrain short of the runway. The pilot reported that the right fuel tank ruptured in flight. An FAA inspector, who examined the airplane following the accident, reported that the right fuel tank had been patched to prevent fuel leakage on at least two separate occasions. The inspector noted fuel leaking around the patches; which eventually resulted in fuel exhaustion. The airplane underwent its last annual inspection 6 months prior to the accident. According to the pilot, the previous owner had the patches applied.
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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 150 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 110 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 721 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 18, 2002; 704 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,110 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C90-14 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Q94 Rio Linda CA at 2:40 am
- Destination: Q94 Rio Linda CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,600 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 am from SMF, 6 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.
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.