Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Millard, Nebraska 68137
Monday, September 5, 1994 12:26 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT REPORTED THE EXPERIMENTAL HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE'S ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER AND THEN STOPPED RUNNING. HE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE, AND MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A MUDDY FIELD. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE ENGINE SEPARATED DURING THE LANDING ROLL. POSTACCIDENT INSPECTION AND SUBSEQUENT OPERATION OF THE ENGINE DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MECHANICAL ANOMALY. THE PILOT SAID THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL TANKS WERE FILLED WITH AUTOGAS AND THAT THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80 DEGREES F. THE PILOT BELIEVES THAT THE ENGINE MAY HAVE LOST POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION FROM VAPOR LOCK.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the loss of engine power due to fuel starvation from vapor lock. A factor associated with the accident is the soft terrain the pilot was forced to land upon.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/5/1994
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1226
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City MILLARD
Event State NEBRASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 68137
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1150 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 45
Weather Observation Facility ID OMA
Elevation of weather observation facility 983
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 12000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 12000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 12
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1218
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 5 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1500
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 12:13PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N54WB
NTSB Number CHI94LA313
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name WILLIAM P. BOUDA
Aircraft Model VARIEZE
Aircraft Series Identifier VARIEZE
Aircraft Serial Number 554
Certified Max Gross Weight 1190
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 16 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1
Airframe Hours 163
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WILLIAM P. BOUDA
Aircraft Owner Street Address 17036 ORCHARD AVE.
Aircraft Owner City OMAHA
Aircraft Owner State NE
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 68135
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code MLE
Departure City
Departure State NE
Departure Country
Departure Time 1200
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --