Amateur-built KR-2 accident near St. Marys, Georgia, December 21, 2003
On December 21, 2003 at about 8:24 pm local time, a amateur-built KR-2, registered N93PC, was substantially damaged in an accident near St. Marys, Georgia (St. Marys Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during climb out which resulted in a stall and inflight collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 21, 2003 · about 8:24 pm local time
- Place
- St. Marys, Georgia · St. Marys Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KR-2
- Registration
- N93PC · no longer on the register · serial 727466B
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the second landing the aircraft bounced approximately one foot. After the bounce the pilot decided that it would be best to go around. The pilot felt a sudden, strong vibration. The pilot thought he did not have enough runway to make a safe landing so he continued the takeoff. The pilot stated that he checked the instruments and saw that the engine was running at 3100 RPM, but the airspeed was decreasing and the vibration was increasing. He increased the pitch of the airplane just before a row of trees at the end of the runway and made it over the top of the trees. The pilot pitched the nose of the airplane back down and turned slightly to the left to avoid some taller trees and headed towards a clearing in the woods by a river. The airplane's landing gear struck the tops of trees 80 feet high. The airplane came to rest inverted three feet from the ground in the bushes. The airplane caught on fire. Both the pilot and passenger were able to get out of their seatbelts and crawl out of the plane. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 201 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 44 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 136 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 9, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 162 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 28, 2003; 38.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 2180 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 4J6 St. Marys GA at 7:54 pm
- Destination: 4J6 St. Marys GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 8:54 pm from KJAX, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N93PC the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.