Amateur-built VARIVIGGEN accident near Reno, Nevada, May 28, 1986
On May 28, 1986 at about 5:30 pm local time, a amateur-built VARIVIGGEN, registered N586MS, was destroyed in an accident near Reno, Nevada (Reno/Stead airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 28, 1986 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Reno, Nevada · Reno/Stead · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VARIVIGGEN
- Registration
- N586MS · no longer on the register · serial 586
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AN EXCESSIVELY LONG TAKEOFF RUN WAS MADE DUE TO HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE. DURING INTITAL CLIMB THE PILOT OVER ROTATED CAUSING A LOW AIRSPEED. THE PILOT NOTICED THIS, LOWERED THE NOSE AND THEN FLEW INTO THE GROUND. THE PILOT ALSO FAILED TO RETRACT THE LANDING GEAR AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE. THE PILOT GAINED HIS PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE IN 1960 AND AT THAT TIME HAD LOGGED OVER 130 HOURS OF TOTAL FLIGHT TIME.
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: 251 hours in all; 208 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, November 8, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RNO Reno NV at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 7,600 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:49 pm from RNO, 1 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.