Amateur-built VARI-EZE accident near Renton, Washington, May 8, 1987
On May 8, 1987 at about 1:45 am local time, a amateur-built VARI-EZE, registered N29Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Renton, Washington. It was a personal flight 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 8, 1987 · about 1:45 am local time
- Place
- Renton, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VARI-EZE
- Registration
- N29Z · no longer on the register · serial 1241
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE BEING HAND PROPPED THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO MOVE. THE PILOT THEN ATTEMPTED TO CLIMB INSIDE THE AIRCRAFT BUT THE CANOPY HAD CLOSED. THE PILOT HELD ONTO THE AIRCRAFT AND WAS DRAGGED ACROSS THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A PARKED, UNOCCUPIED AIRCRAFT AND THEN A FENCE BEFORE COMING TO REST. THE PILOT DISCOVERED THAT THE PARKING BRAKE WAS OUT OF ADJUSTMENT.
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: 497 hours in all; 172 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 399 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 185 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 25, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.