Varga 2150A accident near Conroe, Texas, December 10, 1987
On December 10, 1987 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Varga 2150A, registered N4VK, was destroyed in an accident near Conroe, Texas (Montgomery County 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 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
- December 10, 1987 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Conroe, Texas · Montgomery County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Varga 2150A
- Registration
- N4VK · no longer on the register · serial VAC-187-82
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT TOOK OFF FOR A SHORT FLIGHT WITHOUT BEING SURE OF HIS FUEL QUANTITY. HE WAS NOT ABLE TO LOCATE HIS DESTINATION WHICH WAS 32 NM FROM HIS DEPARTURE AIRPORT. THE ENGINE STOPPED AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING. DURING THE FORCED LANDING, THE AIRPLANE HIT TREES, UPRIGHT POSITION. INSPECTION FOUND THE FUEL TANK EMPTY AND NO LEAKS IN THE FUEL SYSTEM.
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: 167 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 125 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 438 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 9, 1987; 156 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,817 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6R3 Cleveland TX at 7:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 5,400 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:49 pm from IAH, 23 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.