Amateur-built KR2 accident near Poplar Grove, Illinois, May 26, 2019
On May 26, 2019 at about 10:00 pm local time, a 2004 amateur-built KR2, registered N886MJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Poplar Grove, Illinois (Poplar Grove airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power due to vapor lock of the throttle body injection system.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 26, 2019 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Poplar Grove, Illinois · Poplar Grove · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KR2 S, built 2004
- Registration
- N886MJ · registry record · serial 9425-886
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after departure, the pilot smelled oily smoke and noted a loss of engine oil pressure and an increase in oil temperature. The engine lost power, and the pilot performed a forced landing to a corn field. During the landing, the nosewheel dug into the field and the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and vertical stabilizer. An examination of the engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would preclude normal operations. The source of the oil leak was not identified. The pilot later reported that, after researching and consulting with other pilots who operated the engine type installed on the accident airplane, he believed that the loss of engine power was the result of vapor lock in the throttle body injection (TBI) system. His research indicated that other airplane owners provide “blast cooling” on the TBI to fix the issue. The pilot said that the vapor lock issue likely started at the same time as the engine heated up due to the extra lean mixture. He added that the rear seal might leak and spray oil on the exhaust pipe. He stated that enriching the mixture might have corrected the issue inflight.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Powerplant parameters › Design
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 623 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 623 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 2, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 667.7 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 20, 2018; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: General Motors Corp Corvair (piston); 314 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C77 Poplar Grove IL at 9:50 pm
- Destination: FEP Freeport IL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 9:54 pm from KRFD, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on November 3, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Additional Information | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Summary of FAA Findings | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.