Hesterlee RUTAN VARI EZE N41ES

Summary

On 1 May 1994 at about 19:45 local time, a Hesterlee RUTAN VARI EZE registered N41ES was involved in an accident near Statesville, North Carolina, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 May 1994 at 19:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Statesville, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Statesville Municipal (SVH)

Coordinates

35.7800, -80.8794

Aircraft

Hesterlee RUTAN VARI EZE

Registration

N41ES

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Asheboro

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL94LA089

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper positioning of the fuel selector, which resulted in fuel starvation during the initial climb after takeoff. A factor was a ditch adjacent to the runway.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE QUIT. A FORCED LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED, WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH A DITCH AS THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RE-LAND ON THE REMAINDER OF THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE MOVED THE FUEL SELECTOR FROM THE AUXILIARY TANK POSITION TO THE OFF POSITION INSTEAD OF THE MAIN TANK POSITION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.