Amateur-built VARI-EZE accident near Lake Placid, Florida, May 27, 1991
On May 27, 1991 at about 8:30 pm local time, a amateur-built VARI-EZE, registered N1344Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake Placid, Florida. 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
IMPROPER FUEL SELECTOR POSITION BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND RESULTING IN THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 27, 1991 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lake Placid, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VARI-EZE
- Registration
- N1344Z · no longer on the register · serial 847
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT FAILED TO POSITION THE FUEL SELECTOR FROM A FUSELAGE TANK WHICH SUPPLIES FUEL TO THE ENG FOR STARTING, TO THE MAIN TANKS BEFORE TAKEOFF, AS REQUIRED. THE FLT DEPARTED & DURING CRUISE FLT, THE ENG QUIT DUE TO FUEL STARVATION. THE PLT INTENTIONALLY STOPPED THE PROP BUT AFTER REALIZING THAT THE ENG QUIT DUE TO FUEL STARVATION, POSITIONED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE MAIN TANKS & INITIATED A DESCENT TO START THE ENG BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. AFTER TOUCHDOWN IN A FIELD, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED & THE ACFT CAME TO REST INVERTED.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 4,688 hours in all; 829 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 3,905 as pilot in command; 1,506 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 930 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1990; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X53 Clewiston FL at 8:05 pm
- Destination: 2A9 Peachtree City GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°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.