Narrative:
The Varsity aircraft landed hard with the right main gear off the side of the runway, causing the undercarriage to collapse. Due to the impact, the left wing folded aft and the right wing twisted 30 degrees leading edge down. The aircraft wheel track is only 4 feet less than the width of the runway. The pilot did not have a type rating for the Varsity plane.
PROBABLE CAUSE:
"Judgment .. poor .. pilot in command
Overconfidence in personal ability .. pilot in command
Level off .. misjudged .. pilot in command
Inadequate initial training .. pilot in command
Lack of total experience in type of aircraft .. pilot in command
Unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area .. selected .. pilot in command
Proper alignment .. not attained .. pilot in command
CONTRIBUTING FACTORS:
Flight/nav instruments,airspeed indicator .. inoperative"
accident date: 11-12-1983
type: Vickers 668 Varsity
registration: N65338
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Sunday 11 December 1983 |
| Time: | 14:15 |
| Type: |  Vickers 668 Varsity |
| Operator: | West Texas Air Museum |
| Registration: | N65338 |
| MSN: | |
| First flight: | 1953 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 7371 |
| Engines: | 2 Bristol Hercules 264 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | El Paso-West Texas Airport, TX ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Landing (LDG) |
| Nature: | Ferry/positioning |
| Departure airport: | El Paso International Airport, TX (ELP/KELP), United States of America |
| El Paso-West Texas Airport, TX, United States of America |
The Varsity aircraft landed hard with the right main gear off the side of the runway, causing the undercarriage to collapse. Due to the impact, the left wing folded aft and the right wing twisted 30 degrees leading edge down. The aircraft wheel track is only 4 feet less than the width of the runway. The pilot did not have a type rating for the Varsity plane.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE:
"Judgment .. poor .. pilot in command
Overconfidence in personal ability .. pilot in command
Level off .. misjudged .. pilot in command
Inadequate initial training .. pilot in command
Lack of total experience in type of aircraft .. pilot in command
Unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area .. selected .. pilot in command
Proper alignment .. not attained .. pilot in command
CONTRIBUTING FACTORS:
Flight/nav instruments,airspeed indicator .. inoperative"
Sources:
» NTSBPhotos
accident date: 11-12-1983
type: Vickers 668 Varsity
registration: N65338
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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