Bruce McKinney VARI-EZE N4985Z

Summary

On 24 November 1989 at about 19:18 local time, a Bruce McKinney VARI-EZE registered N4985Z, operated by Frank E. Gernert, was involved in an accident near Aspen, Colorado, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 November 1989 at 19:18

Classification

Accident

Location

Aspen, Colorado, United States

Coordinates

39.1904, -106.8205

Aircraft

Bruce McKinney VARI-EZE

Registration

N4985Z

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Frank E. Gernert

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN90DTE02

2 people died.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL THE AIRPLANE, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION. A RELATED FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT WAS ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT AND HAD MADE TWO STOPS WITHOUT REFUELING. AFTER TAKEOFF ON THE THIRD LEG, HE RADIOED THAT HE HAD AN EMERGENCY AND WAS RETURNING. THE NATURE OF THE EMERGENCY WAS NOT BROADCAST. THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A DESCENDING RIGHT TURN AND CRASHED ON A LEDGE IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL IN THE AIRCRAFT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.