Parkman VARI-EZE accident near Tucson, AZ
On December 18, 1998, a Parkman VARI-EZE (airplane) was involved in an accident near Tucson, AZ. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- December 18, 1998
- Place
- Tucson, AZ
- Aircraft
- Parkman VARI-EZE · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 32.060°N, 111.420°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X11574
NTSB summary
On December 18, 1998, at 0815 hours mountain standard time, an experimental Parkman Vari-Eze, N81EZ, collided with a mesquite tree during a forced landing attempt in the desert just east of Ryan Field, Tucson, Arizona. The aircraft, which was partially constructed and owned by the pilot, was destroyed during the impact sequence and subsequent postcrash fire. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight, conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, which originated moments before the crash. The pilot had just departed Ryan Field for the maiden flight in the aircraft when he contacted the control tower and told them that he had a problem and that he "had to put it down here." Air traffic controllers who were interviewed after the accident stated that the aircraft did not appear to gain much altitude; only achieving about 100 feet of altitude above the terrain. Two ground witnesses who were driving on a nearby road said that the pilot had just cleared the departure end of the runway and had a 15- to 20-degree nose up attitude when it "looked like he was attempting to climb but couldn't get the power." They said that the engine was running and that they didn't notice any smoke or debris coming from the engine. They said that the airplane appeared to be in a slow, nose high attitude. An eyewitness who was piloting a Cessna 150 nearby said he heard the experimental aircraft advise the Ryan tower that he was having problems. He said that the tower controller cleared the aircraft to land on runway 24. He said that he heard the pilot advise
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to attain and maintain an adequate flying airspeed during the aircraft's maiden flight, which resulted in a stall/mush condition. Also causal was the pilot/builder's decision to modify the engine and the fuel system control microchip, which resulted in detonation and a severe reduction in power output, and led directly to the pilot's inability to attain and maintain airspeed.
More accidents in AZ
- De Havilland DHC-6-300, Sep 27, 1989
- Cessna 402C, Jun 19, 1992
- Piper PA-31-350, Aug 17, 1983
- Piper PA-31-350, Feb 13, 1995
- Cessna 421C, Sep 2, 1995
Browse: Arizona
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
