Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Arlington, Washington 98223
Saturday, July 11, 1998 14:35 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A lack of adequate carburetor heat available and overload of the main landing gear. Contributing factors were carburetor icing conditions and soft terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/11/1998
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1435
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City ARLINGTON
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98223
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 7
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1435 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 340
Weather Observation Facility ID AWO
Elevation of weather observation facility 137
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2400
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1900
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
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 None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1252
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 11 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1541
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:38AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N29NS
NTSB Number SEA98LA130
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 PERSON
Aircraft Model VARI EZE
Aircraft Series Identifier VARI EZE
Aircraft Serial Number 1638
Certified Max Gross Weight 1200
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 49
Airframe Hours 240
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PERSON, JOSEPH, M.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 20208 HOLLYHILLS DRIVE NE
Aircraft Owner City BOTHELL
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98011
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
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 AWO
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1418
Departure Time Zone PDT
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 --
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 --