Rutan Aircraft Factory VARI EZE accident near Panama City, Florida, April 21, 1991
On April 21, 1991 at about 8:40 pm local time, a Rutan Aircraft Factory VARI EZE, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N32F, was destroyed in an accident near Panama City, Florida. 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
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND MISJUDGED HIS ALTITUDE WHILE CONDUCTING AN AEROBATIC MANEUVER, RESULTING IN AN IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH WATER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 21, 1991 · about 8:40 pm local time
- Place
- Panama City, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rutan Aircraft Factory VARI EZE, amateur-built
- Registration
- N32F · registry record · serial C1AMA1
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT DEPARTED ON A VFR FLIGHT IN VFR CONDITIONS. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE PLT WAS OBSERVED BY WITNESSES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT BUZZING HOUSES, TREETOPS, AND FLYING LOW ABOVE THE OCEAN. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TRAVELING NORTHBOUND TOWARD THE SHORELINE AT 50 TO 60 FEET AGL. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO MAKE A VERTICAL CLIMB, AND THEN THE NOSE TILTED TOWARDS THE WEST IN A DESCENT, AND THE AIRPLANE WAS HEADING EASTBOUND WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH THE OCEAN. THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED. THE COMMERCIAL PLT WAS KILLED. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE STRUCTURE, PROPELLER, FLIGHT CONTROLS, ENGINE AND ACCESSORIES REVEALED NO EVIDENCE TO INDICATE PRECRASH MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.
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: 700 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PFN at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 8:46 pm from PFN, 5 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.
Other NTSB records under N32F the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.