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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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August 3, 1986 · Attebery-Stainbrook Varieze · N6BZ

Osawatomie, KS

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 3, 1986
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Osawatomie, KS
Aircraft
Attebery-Stainbrook Varieze
Tail Number
N6BZ
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
MKC86FA166

WITNESSES STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO BE OPERATING NORMALLY AND FLYING AT CRUISE ALTITUDE WHEN, SUDDENLY THE LEFT (PORT) WING SEPARATED FROM THE FUSELAGE. SOUNDS OF ENGINE POWER CEASED IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE IN-FLIGHT BREAKUP AND THE AIRCRAFT PLUMMETED TO THE GROUND UNDER NO APPARENT CONTROL, THE WITNESSES FURTHER STATED. THE MAIN WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED ON A CORNFIELD RESTING IN AN INVERTED POSITION. THE LEFT MAIN WING WAS LOCATED ON AN OPEN FIELD ONE QUARTER MILE AWAY. ON-SCENE INSPECTION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT NEITHER WING HAD BEEN SECURED TO THE MAIN FUSELAGE WITH ANY KIND OF FASTENING DEVICE. EPOXY AND PAINT ABOUT THE WING ROOT AREA WERE FOUND TO BE THE ONLY MEANS OF KEEPING THE WINGS AND THE FUSELAGE MATED. NO ENGINE MALFUNCTION WAS DISCOVERED. THIS AIRCRAFT HAD LOGGED JUST OVER 14 FLIGHT HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT.

Full Narrative

WITNESSES STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO BE OPERATING NORMALLY AND FLYING AT CRUISE ALTITUDE WHEN, SUDDENLY THE LEFT (PORT) WING SEPARATED FROM THE FUSELAGE. SOUNDS OF ENGINE POWER CEASED IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE IN-FLIGHT BREAKUP AND THE AIRCRAFT PLUMMETED TO THE GROUND UNDER NO APPARENT CONTROL, THE WITNESSES FURTHER STATED. THE MAIN WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED ON A CORNFIELD RESTING IN AN INVERTED POSITION. THE LEFT MAIN WING WAS LOCATED ON AN OPEN FIELD ONE QUARTER MILE AWAY. ON-SCENE INSPECTION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT NEITHER WING HAD BEEN SECURED TO THE MAIN FUSELAGE WITH ANY KIND OF FASTENING DEVICE. EPOXY AND PAINT ABOUT THE WING ROOT AREA WERE FOUND TO BE THE ONLY MEANS OF KEEPING THE WINGS AND THE FUSELAGE MATED. NO ENGINE MALFUNCTION WAS DISCOVERED. THIS AIRCRAFT HAD LOGGED JUST OVER 14 FLIGHT HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:20 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAttebery-Stainbrook Varieze
Tail NumberN6BZ
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-200A · Reciprocating · 100
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 49 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind360° @ 5 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time08:00

Appendix: Source Data