Amateur-built VARI-EZE accident near Chino, California, April 7, 1996
On April 7, 1996 at about 6:09 pm local time, a amateur-built VARI-EZE, registered N88VE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chino, California (Chino airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's excessive initial climb attitude and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed. The pilot's diverted attention to the unlatched canopy warning light, and his lack of familiarity with the aircraft were factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 7, 1996 · about 6:09 pm local time · cases in 1996
- Place
- Chino, California · Chino · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VARI-EZE
- Registration
- N88VE · registry record · serial 65
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was conducting a sales demonstration flight for the airplane's owner. Before departing on the accident flight, the pilot performed two high speed taxi operations and one takeoff and landing. When departing on the accident flight, the pilot twice aborted the takeoff due to a canopy unlatched warning light indication. After correcting the problem, with the airplane still on the runway, the pilot took off and climbed sharply. Ground witnesses said the airplane stalled about 100 feet agl. The left wing and nose dropped and the pilot was unable to regain a positive flight attitude. The airplane crashed in a left wing and nose down attitude. The wreckage examination established continuity of the flight control system. The pilot had 1 hour of flight time in this type aircraft.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 723 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 541 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 51 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 10, 1995; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CNO at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 6,204 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:17 pm from CNO
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N88VE on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Continental O-200-A 297 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Chino Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,097 in the last ten years
- California 27,897 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX96LA159.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.