Amateur-built VARI-EZE accident near Cincinnati, Ohio, July 23, 1990
On July 23, 1990 at about 11:30 pm local time, a amateur-built VARI-EZE, registered N45DR, was destroyed in an accident near Cincinnati, Ohio. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A POWER LOSS DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF A FUEL LINE FITTING AND INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 1990 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Cincinnati, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VARI-EZE
- Registration
- N45DR · registry record · serial 614
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TAKEOFF, AT APRX 300 FT AGL, THE ENGINE LOSS POWER. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE INTO A RACE TRACK PARKING LOT, AND THE AIRPLANE STRUCK WOODEN FENCES AND A TREE LINE. THE ENGINE HAD A HISTORY OF RUNNING HOT. A NYLON FITTING IN THE MAIN FUEL LINE WAS FOUND TO BE CROSS THREADED, AND TEFLON TAPE HAD BEEN USED AS A SEAL AROUND THE THREADS. THE NYLON FITTING WAS LOOSE, AND THE SEAL DETERIORATED WHICH ALLOWED AIR TO BE SUCKED INTO THE LINE.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,767 hours in all; 512 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Observation at 11:33 pm from LUK, 3 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.
Other NTSB records under N45DR the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.