Amateur-built VARI-VIGGEN accident near Erie, Pennsylvania, November 13, 1991
On November 13, 1991 at about 7:03 pm local time, a amateur-built VARI-VIGGEN, registered N12VV, was destroyed in an accident near Erie, Pennsylvania. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AT TOO LOW AN ALTITUDE TO RECOVER. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S LOW TIME AND EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OF AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 13, 1991 · about 7:03 pm local time
- Place
- Erie, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VARI-VIGGEN VARI-VIGGE
- Registration
- N12VV · no longer on the register · serial 208
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A WITNESS SAW THE AIRPLANE TURNING BASE TO FINAL. WHILE IN THE TURN THE AIRPLANE STARTED TO OSCILLATE IN BOTH PITCH AND ROLL, AND THEN WENT INTO A DIVE. THE PILOT RECOVERED AT A LOW ALTITUDE, THE AIRPLANE PITCHED UP AND STARTED TO ROLL TO THE RIGHT. JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT THE WITNESS SAW THE AIRPLANE NOSE LOW, AND IN A RIGHT TURN BEFORE IT IMPACTED. THERE WERE NO RECORDS FOUND TO INDICATE THE PILOT HAD ANY EXPERIENCE WITH TYPE OF AIRPLANE.
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: 599 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 1 in the last 30 days; 499 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 69 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, December 22, 1991; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: ERI Erie PA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 13 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from ERI, 2 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.
Other NTSB records under N12VV 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.