Amateur-built VARI-EZE accident near Eufaula, Alabama, April 11, 1999
On April 11, 1999 at about 7:14 pm local time, a amateur-built VARI-EZE, registered N250GH, was destroyed in an accident near Eufaula, Alabama. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 11, 1999 · about 7:14 pm local time
- Place
- Eufaula, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VARI-EZE
- Registration
- N250GH · no longer on the register · serial 250GH
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While descending to land at the destination airport, the engine lost power. The pilot was able to maintain some engine power by moving the throttle in and out. While attempting a forced landing on a road, the flight encountered a truck and had to pull up. The right wing collided with power lines, the airplane crashed onto the road, slid off the road, and collided with trees. The pilot estimated there was 10 gallons of fuel remaining after the accident. Examination of the carburetor after the accident showed the inlet fuel screen was blocked about 50 percent with fiberglass debris, however there was no evidence of precrash mechanical failure or malfunction of the carburetor. The engine was operated to full power after the accident using the accident carburetor and with the carburetor fuel inlet screen blocked 50 percent. There was no evidence of failure or malfunction of the engine.
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: 880 hours in all; 630 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 804 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 193 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 29, 1999; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: M04 Covington TN at 5:30 pm
- Destination: EUF
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from DHN, 45 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.