Amateur-built KR-2 accident near Greenwood, South Carolina, September 21, 1997
On September 21, 1997 at about 1:30 pm local time, a amateur-built KR-2, registered N9097E, was destroyed in an accident near Greenwood, South Carolina (Greenwood County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The collision with the ground for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 21, 1997 · about 1:30 pm local time · cases in 1997
- Place
- Greenwood, South Carolina · Greenwood County Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KR-2
- Registration
- N9097E · registry record · serial KR28733
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
An eyewitness, driving a four wheel all terrain vehicle, observed an airplane flying east of his location. The eyewitness was about 1/2 mile northeast of the Greenwood Airport. He recalled that the airplane was descending at an approximate 40 degree nose down attitude. The airplane did a roll maneuver, and descended below the tree tops. The airplane did not reappear above the trees. The airplane wreckage and the pilot were located 1/4 mile northeast of the airport. There were no eyewitnesses to the accident, but the airplane was believed to have been seen flying near the airport on the morning of the accident. An on-scene examination of the accident site disclosed that the airplane impacted the ground on a 170 degree magnetic heading and at about a 60 degree nose down attitude. The wreckage debris was confined to 50 a foot radius. All major aircraft structural components were located, and examined at the accident site.
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: 1,050 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 14, 1996
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen VW-1280 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GRD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from GSP, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N9097E on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Volkswagen VW-1280 · as the NTSB recorded it
- Greenwood County · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in South Carolina 1,036 since 1982 · 173 in the last ten years
- South Carolina 3,113 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ATL97LA137.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.