Amateur-built VARI-EZE accident near Eugene, Oregon, May 19, 1985
On May 19, 1985 at about 9:40 pm local time, a amateur-built VARI-EZE, registered N37993, was destroyed in an accident near Eugene, Oregon (Unknown airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 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
- May 19, 1985 · about 9:40 pm local time
- Place
- Eugene, Oregon · Unknown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VARI-EZE
- Registration
- N37993 · no longer on the register · serial 46
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT HAS A FUSELAGE FUEL TANK WHICH HOLDS ONLY TWO GALLONS AS WELL AS TWO WING FUEL TANKS. THE PILOT DEPARTED THE AIRPORT ON THE FUSELAGE TANK AND THE ENGINE CEASED OPERATING BEFORE HE REALIZED HE NEEDED TO CHANGE THE FUEL SELECTOR. AN UNSUCCESSFUL RESTART WAS ATTEMPTED FOLLOWED BY A FORCED LANDING STRAIGHT AHEAD INTO TREES.
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: 2,925 hours in all; 594 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 2,070 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 111 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, May 7, 1984; 187 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,110 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EUG Eugene OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:49 pm from EUG, 10 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.
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.