Amateur-built VARIEZE accident near Santa Paula, California, November 20, 1982
On November 20, 1982 at about 7:15 pm local time, a amateur-built VARIEZE, registered N115EZ, was destroyed in an accident near Santa Paula, California (Santa Paula airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were 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
- November 20, 1982 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Paula, California · Santa Paula · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VARIEZE
- Registration
- N115EZ · no longer on the register · serial 115
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF THE ACFT DID NOT BECOME AIRBORNE UNTIL REACHING THE END OF THE RWY. AFTER FLYING UNDER THE FIRST SET OF WIRES THE LEFT MAIN GEAR STRUCK THE ROOF OF A SMALL HOUSE OFF THE EAST END OF THE FIELD, TAKING DOWN A TV ANTENNA. THE ACFT ENGAGED HEAVY COMMERCIAL TV COAX WHICH LODGED BETWEEN THE NOSE CONE & CANARD TURNING THE ACFT APPROXIMATELY 180 DEG. THE PLT STATED THE WIND SHIFTED DURING THE TAKEOFF.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,002 hours in all; 30 in the last 90 days; 6,900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 628 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 31 hours since
- Seats: 112
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SZP Santa Paula CA at 11:15 am
- Destination: SZP Santa Paula CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 2,650 ft by 45 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 3 knots
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 154°F (68°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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 N115EZ 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.