Amateur-built VARI EZE accident near Arlington, Washington, July 11, 1998
On July 11, 1998 at about 9:35 pm local time, a amateur-built VARI EZE, registered N29NS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Arlington, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A lack of adequate carburetor heat available and overload of the main landing gear. Contributing factors were carburetor icing conditions and soft terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 11, 1998 · about 9:35 pm local time
- Place
- Arlington, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VARI EZE
- Registration
- N29NS · no longer on the register · serial 1638
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot took of and was approximately one mile north of the airport inbound, when he experienced a total and abrupt loss of power. He reported that the 'carb heat was on prior to departure, and left on for (the) duration of (the) flight' and that he encountered 'mist' in flight. He further reported that the 'mist was unusual, as it was 'coating' the airframe and canopy in a manner not seen before.' Following the loss of power, he then executed a forced landing into an open, soft field. During the landing roll the main landing gear collapsed and the right wing and canard separated from the aircraft. The temperature and dew point were 63 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit respectively, and carburetor icing conditions existed. No mechanical malfunction with the engine was found following the accident, nor was any water found within the carburetor bowl. Fuel was present in the aircraft's fuel tanks and a successful post crash test run of the engine revealed no malfunctions.
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: 389 hours in all; 235 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 355 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 240 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AWO at 9:18 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,400 ft; scat at 1,900 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:35 pm from AWO, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.