Varga 2150A accident near Washington, Iowa, August 2, 1988
On August 2, 1988 at about 4:15 am local time, a Varga 2150A, registered N8259J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Washington, Iowa. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- August 2, 1988 · about 4:15 am local time
- Place
- Washington, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Varga 2150A
- Registration
- N8259J · no longer on the register · serial VAC-105-78
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ENROUTE THE PIC RPTD A LOSS OF ENG PWR. THE PIC STATED IN HIS RPT THAT HAVING PASSED WASHINGTON, IA, HE SWITCHED FUEL TANKS TO DRAW FUEL FROM THE LFT TANK WHICH INDICATED 1/2 FULL. SHORTLY AFTER SWITCHING, THE PIC STATED THE TANK WENT EMPTY. THE PIC THEN SWITCHED ON THE OTHER TANK WHICH HAD INDICATED 1/4 FULL. SHORTLY AFTER DOING SO, THE ENG QUIT AND THE PIC ATTEMPTED TO GLIDE TO THE WASHINGTON, IA, ARPT. THE ACFT CLIPPED A POWERLINE GUY WIRE DURING THE FORCED LANDING AND CRASHED SHORT INTO A FARM IMPLEMENT SALES LOT. INSP OF THE ACFT REVEALED LESS THAN 1 GAL TOTAL FUEL QUANTITY. NO LEAKS OR RUPTURE OF FUEL SYSTEM HARDWARE WAS FOUND WHICH COULD EXPLAIN THE LOW QUANTITY OF FUEL IN THE 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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,138 hours in all; 260 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1988; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,817 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Oshkosh WI
- Destination: Memphis MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 am from CID
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.