Smith VARI EZE UNREG
27 July 1992 · Terry, Montana, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 27 July 1992 at about 02:35 local time, a Smith VARI EZE registered UNREG, operated by Smith, Benny J., was involved in an incident near Terry, Montana, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 02:35
- Classification
- Incident
- Location
- Terry, Montana, United States
- Nearest airport
- Terry (8U6)
- Coordinates
- 46.9107, -105.4299
- Aircraft
- Smith VARI EZE
- Registration
- UNREG
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Smith, Benny J.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Terry → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- SEA92IA164
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S EXCEEDING LIFTOFF SPEED DURING A TAXI TEST.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE NON-CERTIFICATED PILOT WAS TAXIING WESTBOUND ON RUNWAY 25 WHEN THE UNREGISTERED HOMEBUILT VARI EZE BECAME AIRBORNE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO REACH AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 20-30 FEET AGL AS IT ROLLED COUNTER CLOCKWISE AND IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NOSE LOW INVERTED ATTITUDE. FAMILY MEMBERS WHO WITNESSED THE OCCURRENCE REPORTED THAT THE PILOT DID NOT INTEND TO FLY THE AIRCRAFT, BUT ONLY TAXI ALONG THE RUNWAY.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Nov 1992 | Swearingen SA-226TC | Billings, Montana, United States | Big Sky Transportation Co | No injuries | - |
| 20 May 1992 | Schweizer SGS-1-35C | Big Timber, Montana, United States | Ridge Runners Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 14 May 1992 | Bellanca 8KCAB | Kalispell, Montana, United States | Morgan Air Service | No injuries | - |
| 29 Dec 1992 | Aero Commander AC-500B | Billings, Montana, United States | Corporate Air | No injuries | - |
| 16 May 1992 | E E Shilling Q-2 | Billings, Montana, United States | Michael R. Moore | No injuries | - |
| 29 May 1992 | Piper PA-28-140 | Monarch, Montana, United States | Chamberlain, Dwight N. | Minor injuries | - |