Amateur-built SH-3R accident near Auburn, Alabama, July 15, 1992
On July 15, 1992 at about 1:55 pm local time, a amateur-built SH-3R, registered N383KR, was destroyed in an accident near Auburn, Alabama. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED AFTER INITIATING A MANEUVER FROM LOW ALTITUDE. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 1992 · about 1:55 pm local time
- Place
- Auburn, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SH-3R
- Registration
- N383KR · no longer on the register · serial 3168
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND A PILOT-RATED PASSENGER WERE FLYING THE HOME-BUILT, EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT IN THE LOCAL AREA. THE REPORTED CEILING WAS 1,100 FEET (BROKEN). THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED PERFORMING A CLIMBING, HIGH BANK ANGLE TURN BENEATH THE CLOUD DECK PRIOR TO A LEFT, DESCENDING SPIRAL INTO THE TERRAIN. SEVERAL WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO ENGINE NOISE DURING THE UNCONTROLLED DESCENT. THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED IN A WOODED AREA, ABOUT 200 YARDS FROM A HIGHWAY. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE INDICATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN IN A STEEP, NOSE LOW ATTITUDE WITH LITTLE FORWARD SPEED. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD ADEQUATE FUEL FOR THE FLIGHT. NON-VOLATILE MEMORY DATA FROM THE ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS AT IDLE POWER AT THE TIME OF GROUND IMPACT. THE THROTTLE WAS FOUND IN THE IDLE POSITION, WITH THE PROP AND MIXTURE CONTROLS FULL FORWARD. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE AND AIRFRAME REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A PRE-EXISTING MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,950 hours in all; 200 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 16 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, June 27, 1992; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AUO Auburn AL at 1:39 pm
- Destination: AUO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 12 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,100 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from AUO, 9 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.
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.