Amateur-built VARIEZE accident near Bisbee, Arizona, July 22, 1993
On July 22, 1993 at about 4:30 pm local time, a amateur-built VARIEZE, registered N183RC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bisbee, Arizona (Bisbee Municipal 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 IMPROPER USE OF THE CARBURETOR HEAT. THE CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS WERE A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 1993 · about 4:30 pm local time · cases in 1993
- Place
- Bisbee, Arizona · Bisbee Municipal Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VARIEZE
- Registration
- N183RC · registry record · serial 2183
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE DESCENT, THE PILOT FAILED TO USE THE CARBURETOR ICE AND THE ENGINE QUIT. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A STARTER. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A ROAD SIGN BEFORE LANDING ON A ROAD ABOUT A 1/2 MILE NORTH OF THE AIRPORT.
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: 3,000 hours in all; 225 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 182 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 22, 1993; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 4AC-176FZ (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.
Other NTSB records under N183RC the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N183RC on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Franklin 4AC-176FZ 125 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Bisbee Municipal · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Arizona 2,985 since 1982 · 468 in the last ten years
- Arizona 8,422 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N183RC 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX93LA295.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.