Varga 2150A N56180
12 February 1995 · Yuma, Arizona, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 12 February 1995 at about 02:15 local time, a Varga 2150A registered N56180 was involved in an accident near Yuma, Arizona, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 02:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Yuma, Arizona, United States
- Coordinates
- 32.7201, -114.5109
- Aircraft
- Varga 2150A
- Registration
- N56180
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Eloy → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Dusk
- NTSB number
- LAX95LA107
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection and his failure to refuel the aircraft.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT IS A RETIRED MILITARY AVIATOR WHO WAS IN THE PROCESS OF QUALIFYING FOR A CIVILIAN PILOT CERTIFICATE. HE SAID THE FUEL TANKS WERE FULL AT DEPARTURE FROM YUMA AND HE DID NOT REFUEL AT ELOY. PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, HE VISUALLY LOOKED INSIDE THE TANKS AND ESTIMATED THAT ABOUT 20 GALLONS OF A 33 USABLE TOTAL WERE AVAILABLE. THE TOTAL ELAPSED FLIGHT TIME FROM DEPARTURE AT YUMA UNTIL THE ACCIDENT WAS CALCULATED TO BE ABOUT 2 HOURS 53 MINUTES. THE PILOT SAID THAT ABOUT 39 MILES FROM YUMA HE CONTACTED YUMA APPROACH FOR RADAR ADVISORIES. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ENGINE QUIT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OVER A MOUNTAINOUS AREA WITHOUT SUITABLE LANDING AREAS AND THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS INTACT WITH NO EVIDENCE OF LEAKAGE. ONLY RESIDUAL FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANKS. THE FUEL LINES TO THE CARBURETOR DID NOT CONTAIN FUEL. AN FAA INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT AND FOUND NO DISCREPANCIES WITH THE AIRFRAME OR ENGINE. THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNITS WERE TESTED AND FOUND TO FUNCTION CORRECTLY.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Varga 2150 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Oct 1993 | Varga 2150A | Burns, Oregon, United States | Grimm, Thomas E. | Fatal | 1 |
| 22 Nov 1998 | Varga 2150A | Chandler, Arizona, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 30 Dec 1992 | Varga 2150A | Salome, Arizona, United States | Chester E. Sweeley | No injuries | - |
| 7 Jun 1991 | Varga 2150A | Livermore, California, United States | Parker, Claron E. | Fatal | 1 |
| 2 Aug 1988 | Varga 2150A | Washington, Iowa, United States | George L. Seyb | Minor injuries | - |
| 5 Jan 1987 | Varga 2150A | Hayward, California, United States | Action Aviation | Fatal | 1 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Jun 1995 | Cessna 180 | Chandler, Arizona, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 1 Jul 1995 | Piper PA-22-160 | Payson, Arizona, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 6 Jul 1995 | Piper PA-25-235 | Maricopa, Arizona, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 24 Apr 1995 | Cessna 172D | Tsaile, Arizona, United States | BOB Werra | Fatal | 4 |
| 12 Jan 1995 | Cessna 208B | Flagstaff, Arizona, United States | Empire Airlines, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 1 Aug 1995 | North American AT-6B | Glendale, Arizona, United States | - | No injuries | - |