Oct. 18, Quemado, N.M. / Vari-Eze

At approximately 10:10 MDT, a homebuilt Vari-Eze nosed over during a forced landing 20 miles southwest of Quemado. The pilot was killed. The pilot reportedly had just purchased the aircraft in California and was ferrying it to McKinney, Texas. At 10:01, the pilot contacted Albuquerque Center and said he was level at 13,500 feet and experiencing a rough running engine. The pilot requested vectors to the closest airport. He was provided a discreet transponder code, but was never identified on radar....

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A pilot was killed when his newly purchased homebuilt Vari-Eze aircraft nosed over during a forced landing 20 miles southwest of Quemado, New Mexico.
  • The incident occurred at approximately 10:10 MDT while the pilot was ferrying the aircraft from California to Texas.
  • Prior to the crash, the pilot contacted air traffic control at 10:01 MDT to report a rough-running engine and request vectors to the closest airport, but was never identified on radar.
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At approximately 10:10 MDT, a homebuilt Vari-Eze nosed over during a forced landing 20 miles southwest of Quemado. The pilot was killed. The pilot reportedly had just purchased the aircraft in California and was ferrying it to McKinney, Texas. At 10:01, the pilot contacted Albuquerque Center and said he was level at 13,500 feet and experiencing a rough running engine. The pilot requested vectors to the closest airport. He was provided a discreet transponder code, but was never identified on radar.

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