Amateur-built VARIEZE accident near Portola, California, May 23, 1983
On May 23, 1983 at about 9:30 pm local time, a amateur-built VARIEZE, registered N882BF, was destroyed in an accident near Portola, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- May 23, 1983 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Portola, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VARIEZE
- Registration
- N882BF · no longer on the register · serial 882
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HOME BUILT ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES & CRASHED ON RISING TERRAIN WHILE THE PLT & PASSENGER WERE ON A SIGHT-SEEING FLT. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT AN ELEVATION OF 7000 FT, THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ESTIMATED TO BE APRX 10000 FT. THE WRECKAGE WAS SCATTERED APRX 290 FT ALONG A SOUTHERLY DIRECTION. ABOUT 40 MILES EAST OF THE CRASH SITE, THE WIND WAS FROM 360 DEG AT 10 KTS. THE PLT HAD BEEN USING AUTOMOTIVE FUEL IN THE ENG. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATED, 'AUTO GAS, ESPECIALLY THE HIGH AEROMATIC CONTENT NO-LEAD, SHOULD NOT BE USED.' NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT STRUCTURAL FAILURE WAS REPORTED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, May 3, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 1,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290 D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 002 Beckwourth CA at 8:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:49 pm from RNO, 40 miles away
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.