Amateur-built VARI-EZE accident near Hollister, California, March 6, 1990
On March 6, 1990 at about 1:40 am local time, a amateur-built VARI-EZE, registered N144BE, was destroyed in an accident near Hollister, California (Hollister Muni airport). 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 PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF ALTITUDE AND DISTANCE TO THE RUNWAY, WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO LAND. THE SUNGLARE WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 6, 1990 · about 1:40 am local time
- Place
- Hollister, California · Hollister Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VARI-EZE
- Registration
- N144BE · no longer on the register · serial 46
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID HE WAS LANDING ON RUNWAY 24 DIRECTLY INTO THE SETTING SUN. HE NOTED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO SEE HIS INSTRUMENT PANEL DUE TO THE SUN GLARE AND THAT HE MISJUDGED HIS ALTITUDE AND RATE OF SINK. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A FENCE SHORT OF THE THRESHOLD AND CARTWHEELED TO A STOP ON THE RUNWAY.
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: 2,008 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 2,008 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 26 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 2, 1989; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 727 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 307 at 1:00 am
- Destination: 307
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,150 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.