Amateur-built VARIEZE accident near Lebanon, Missouri, September 21, 1987
On September 21, 1987 at about 9:15 pm local time, a amateur-built VARIEZE, registered N24GE, was destroyed in an accident near Lebanon, Missouri (Lebanon 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 21, 1987 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Lebanon, Missouri · Lebanon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VARIEZE
- Registration
- N24GE · no longer on the register · serial 24
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PIC WAS BACK-TAXIING DOWN RWY 18 WITH A PLANNED DEPT TO THE NORTH. THE PIC STATED THAT HE APPLIED BRAKES IN ORDER TO MODIFY HIS DIRECTION DURING THE TAXI, BUT THE BRAKE FAILED TO COMPENSATE. THE PIC FURTHER STATED THAT HE APPLIED MORE PWR IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT DIRECTION WHEN THE OPENED CANOPY FELL DOWN. THE PIC GRABBED THE CANOPY IN ORDER TO SECURE IT AND RELEASED CONTROL OF THE THROTTLE. DURING THIS SEQUENCE THE ACFT WAS INCREASING IN SPEED TOWARDS AN EMBANKMENT. THE PIC PULLED BACK ON THE FLT CONTROLS AND THE ACFT BECAME AIRBORNE FOR A SHORT DISTANCE, HOWEVER, HE STATED THAT THE ACFT HAD INSUFFICIENT A/S TO REMAIN AIRBORNE AND IT DESCENDED TO THE GROUND. THE ACFT THEN ROLLED A SHORT DISTANCE, BROKE THROUGH A FENCE, CROSSED A DITCH AND A ROAD, AND FINALLY CROSSED ANOTHER DITCH, COMING TO REST IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE ACFT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DESTROYED BY FIRE. EXAM OF THE BRAKES DID NOT REVEAL ANY EVIDENCE OF A 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 250 hours in all; 51 in this make and model; 51 in the last 90 days; 225 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 51 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 1, 1987; 50 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: LBO at 9:15 pm
- Destination: Macomb IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:00 pm from SGF, 42 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.
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.