Amateur-built VARI EZE accident near Santa Monica, California, February 11, 2018
On February 11, 2018 at about 8:58 pm local time, a 1982 amateur-built VARI EZE, registered N944X, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Santa Monica, California (Santa Monica Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An undetected fluid leak in the right brake line, which resulted in a reduction of braking effectiveness at the right wheel and a loss of directional control during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 11, 2018 · about 8:58 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Monica, California · Santa Monica Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VARI EZE NO SERIES, built 1982
- Registration
- N944X · no longer on the register · serial 893
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot reported that, during the landing roll, the experimental amateur-built airplane experienced a partial loss of right brake effectiveness. The pilot attempted to counter the directional control imbalance as the roll continued, but he became concerned that the airplane might run off the end of the runway and the drop-off at the end, so he applied maximum brake pressure. The airplane then veered left, departed the runway, and impacted a hangar. Postaccident examination revealed that a slow fluid leak had developed at the inlet fitting of the right brake caliper, and the fluid level in the reservoir for the right brake master cylinder had dropped to just under half of its capacity. This leak most likely allowed air to be introduced into the system either through the fitting or the depleted brake reservoir, which resulted in reduced effectiveness of the right brake. Maintenance records indicated that the pilot replaced the hydraulic lines on the right side about 147 flight hours before the accident. The airplane was equipped with a free-castering nosewheel and ground steering was accomplished through differential braking once rudder effectiveness diminished at lower speeds. Therefore, with the loss of braking effectiveness on one side, the pilot had limited means to effectively slow the airplane and maintain directional control once the airplane decelerated to a speed below which rudder authority was available.
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
What happened, in order
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear brakes system › Failure
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear steering system › Failure
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 260 hours in all; 102 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 179 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 29, 2017
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 100 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,536.7 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, November 18, 2017; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor O-200 SERIES (piston); 1,480 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: POC La Verne CA at 8:40 pm
- Destination: SMO Santa Monica CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 3,500 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 9:02 pm from KSMO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on October 22, 2018. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Interview Summary | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Airframe Maintenance Logbook Excerpts | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.