Varga 2180A N5065V

Summary

On 10 March 1996 at about 19:15 local time, a Varga 2180A registered N5065V was involved in an accident near Peoria, Arizona, 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

10 March 1996 at 19:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Peoria, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Pleasant Valley (AZ05)

Coordinates

33.6507, -112.2405

Aircraft

Varga 2180A

Registration

N5065V

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Phoenix

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX96FA131

2 people died.

failure of the pilot to obtain or maintain adequate airspeed for turning (maneuvering) after takeoff, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin. The lack of altitude for stall/spin recovery was a related factor.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Four pilot witnesses saw the airplane take off on runway 5L. One witness reported that the airplane settled after becoming airborne as the pilot retracted the flaps. After climbing to about 150 to 175 feet above ground level, the airplane was observed to enter a left turn. During the turn, the airplane went into a steep angle of bank, then it entered a spin and an uncontrolled descent. It struck the ground in a nose down attitude, and a postimpact fire erupted. No evidence of mechanical failure or malfunction was found. Regarding takeoffs from airports, the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) states that if remaining in the traffic pattern, commence turn beyond the departure end of the runway, within 300 feet of the pattern altitude; if departing the traffic pattern, continue straight out or exit with a 45 degree turn beyond the departure end of the runway, after reaching pattern altitude.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.