Amateur-built VARI-EZE accident near Oakdale, California, September 28, 1989
On September 28, 1989 at about 10:00 pm local time, a amateur-built VARI-EZE, registered N23EZ, was destroyed in an accident near Oakdale, California (Oakdale airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND THE DELAYED INITIATION OF THE ABORTED LANDING. A FACTOR WAS LACK OF AIRCRAFT FAMILIARITY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 28, 1989 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Oakdale, California · Oakdale · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VARI-EZE
- Registration
- N23EZ · registry record · serial 1592
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS RECEIVING A CHECKOUT IN THE AIRPLANE. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE EXITED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT SEATED IN THE REAR SEAT ONLY HAD A CONTROL YOKE AND DID NOT HAVE A THROTTLE. THE PVT PILOT ADDED FULL POWER, BUT THE AIRPLANE DID NOT BECOME AIRBORNE BEFORE COLLIDING WITH THE HILLY TERRAIN. THE PVT PILOT FAILED TO REDUCE THE POWER WHEN IT BECAME EVIDENT THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT GOING TO 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 90 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 110 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 3, 1989; 10 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: SCK Stockton CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 3,020 ft by 66 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:32 pm from SCK, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 LAX89DVA11.