NTSB NYC87DGM02 — 1987-05-17 · EBENSBURG, Pennsylvania, United States

Current FAA registration · N785

Make / Model: NOONAN KENNETH R VARI-EZE
Engine: LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES (115 hp)
Seats / Engines: 2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19860422
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S AAA318

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N785 NOONAN VARI-EZE None

Factual narrative

THE VARI-EZE WAS PART OF A THREE SHIP FLYBY AT AN AIRSHOW. THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO BREAK FORMATION AND TURN DOWNWIND FOR A LANDING. A WITNESS REPORTED THE ENGINE SPUTTERING. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED IN A OPEN FIELD NEXT TO THE RUNWAY. EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THAT THERE WAS RUST COLORED WATER IN THE FUEL BOWL AND RUST STAIN ON THE SIDE OF THE BOWL. IN ADDITION IT WAS NOTED THAT THE FUEL LINES FROM THE MAIN FUEL TANKS WERE LOWER THEN THE GASCOLATOR. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1987_NYC87DGM02.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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