Varga 2150A accident near Livermore, California, June 7, 1991
On June 7, 1991 at about 5:21 pm local time, a Varga 2150A, registered N8272J, was destroyed in an accident near Livermore, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 1991 · about 5:21 pm local time
- Place
- Livermore, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Varga 2150A
- Registration
- N8272J · no longer on the register · serial VAC-118-79
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A LOCAL FLIGHT THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY, REPORTING THAT HE SMELLED OIL AND THE COCKPIT WAS HEATING UP. AFTER RADIO CONTACT WAS LOST, A SEARCH LOCATED THE AIRPLANE CRASHED INTO A ROCKY HILL. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE HILL AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED IN A SLIGHT NOSE AND LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE. AN OPEN, GRASS COVERED FIELD SURROUNDED THE HILL. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS/FAILURES OF THE ENGINE OR AIRFRAME WERE FOUND. THE PILOT HAD BEEN TAKING MEDICATION FOR SEVERAL YEARS FOR HEADACHES WHICH WERE NOT REPORTED TO THE FAA. ELEVEN MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT HAD SURGERY FOR LUNG CANCER. THREE MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE CANCER REOCCURRED IN THE PILOT'S BRAIN. THE PILOT DECLINED RADIATION THERAPY AND RELIED ON MEDICATION THERAPY. FOUR DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT REPORTED WEAKNESS AND LACK OF ENERGY AND WAS ADVISED TO INCREASE HIS MEDICATION. THE PILOT CONTINUED TO FLY WHILE BEING TREATED FOR HIS ILLNESS.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 830 hours in all; 256 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,113 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 4, 1991; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,817 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:20 pm from LVK, 7 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.