Falkenthal VARIEZE N78EV

Summary

On 2 September 1982 at about 02:10 local time, a Falkenthal VARIEZE registered N78EV, operated by Robert J. Falkenthal, was involved in an accident near Palo Alto, California, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

2 September 1982 at 02:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Palo Alto, California, United States

Nearest airport

Palo Alto (PAO)

Coordinates

37.4508, -122.1006

Aircraft

Falkenthal VARIEZE

Registration

N78EV

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Robert J. Falkenthal

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Rialto → Burbank

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

LAX83FVM03

1 person was seriously injured.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING FINAL APPROACH THE ACFT SUDDENLY PITCHED DOWN ABOUT 45 DEG & CRASHED INTO A DUCK POND CONTAINING APPROXIMATELY 4-5 FT OF WATER. DURING EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE IT WAS NOTED A BOLT WAS MISSING THAT SECURES THE ELEVATOR CONTROL STICK, AT THE BELLCRANK, TO THE PUSH-PULL ROD THAT EXTENDS TO & OPERATES THE ELEVATORS ATTACHED TO THE CANARD. THE PLT STATED THAT PRIOR TO THIS FLT HE HAD PUT IN A NEW INSTRUMENT PANEL DURING WHICH THE CANARD HAD BEEN REMOVED. HE COULD NOT REMEMBER TORQUING THE NUT ATTACHING THE ELEVATOR PUSH-PULL ROD TO THE BELLCRANK WHEN HE REINSTALLED THE CANARD.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.