Dec. 18, Tucson, Ariz. / Vari-Eze

At 08:15 MST, an experimental Vari-Eze on its maiden flight collided with a mesquite tree during a forced landing attempt in the desert just east of Ryan Field. The pilot/builder was killed and the aircraft was destroyed by the crash and fire. The pilot had just departed when he contacted the control tower and told them that he had a problem and that he had to put it down here. Air traffic controllers said the aircraft did not appear to gain much altitude, only climbing about 100 feet.