Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On January 15, 1996, at 1645 mountain standard time, a home built Krueter KR-2, N8019C, impacted the ground at Front Range Airport, Watkins, Colorado. The private pilot received fatal injuries and the aircraft was destroyed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for this local area personal flight operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The takeoff time is unknown.

According to witnesses, the pilot had not previously flown this recently purchased airplane and his stated intention was to perform taxi tests only. Whether he became airborne inadvertently or made the decision to fly the airplane is unknown. The accident occurred approximately 400 feet short of the approach end of runway 35 and offset to the east approximately 200 feet. (See wreckage and airport diagrams.)

According to a mechanic, who performed a condition inspection on the aircraft for the pilot, the pilot's intention was to perform taxi tests and he observed him taxi away from the ramp/hangar area. At 1645, persons on the ramp observed smoke coming from the area of the approach end of runway 35. On investigation, they found the aircraft burning in a plowed field off the end of the runway.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot held a private certificate issued May 10, 1975. According to logbook information, he did not fly from November 30, 1975, until July 21, 1995. He held a second class medical certificate issued August 4, 1995, and according to the certificate, corrective lenses were required to exercise the privileges of the certificate.

The pilot's log provided information that he had accumulated 138:30 hours total time, all of which was in single engine land aircraft. Of that time, 55:12 hours was day dual instruction, 3:55 hours was night dual instruction, 62:28 hours was day solo, 1:30 hours was night solo, 2:25 hours was actual instrument time, and 17:05 hours was simulated instrument time. The log also provided information that the pilot received a biennial flight review on September 15, 1995, and a tail wheel endorsement on January 9, 1996.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The aircraft, a KR-2, serial number 1, was built in 1980 by Richard B. Krueter. FAA records provided information that the aircraft had been sold on December 27, 1995, and that the registration was pending.

The original KR-2 design was a two-place side-by-side low wing monoplane with no flaps, retractable main landing gear, and a steerable tail wheel. Length was 14 feet 6 inches, wing span was 20 feet 8 inches, and effective wing area was 78 square feet. The airfoil used was the RAF48. The airplane was designed to use a Volkswagen engine from 1,600cc to 2,200cc. Design empty weight, using the 1,600cc engine was 400 pounds and design gross weight was 800 pounds. Design fuel capacity was 12 gallons. Top speed was 150 miles per hour (mph) and design cruise speed was 140 mph. Landing speed was between 42 and 48 mph depending on aircraft weight.