Amateur-built KR-2 accident near Denison, Iowa, October 22, 1999
On October 22, 1999 at about 11:15 pm local time, a amateur-built KR-2, registered N7057V, was destroyed in an accident near Denison, Iowa. 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 pilot not maintaining altitude/clearance from rising terrain and the intentional low altitude flight. Factors were the known turbulence, rising terrain, and the inadequate in-flight decision to fly at low altitudes.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 22, 1999 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Denison, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KR-2
- Registration
- N7057V · no longer on the register · serial KR-2-6672
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A witness said the accident pilot had flown with another pilot earlier in the day and flew at a 'lower altitude, in the bumps, where the groundspeed was higher.' The witness said, 'They also mentioned that while down low, after hitting a bump, the ELT (emergency locator transmitter) activated.' The witness stated that on the accident flight the pilot indicated he was going to climb higher, be out of the turbulence, and accept the slow groundspeed. A witness in the Carroll, Iowa area stated he saw the airplane fly overhead on a northwest heading, in windy and gusty conditions, and saw the airplane fly below the top of a corncrib. Another witness saw the plane clear the 25 to 30 feet powerlines by a couple feet. A third witness said the weather was very windy and the airplane flew overhead at 2 tree lengths of 35 feet. At 1825, the weather was: Wind 320 degrees at 14 knots gusting to 18 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 10 degrees C; dew point -3 degrees C; altimeter 30.15 inches of mercury. At 1815, the altitude and azimuth of the sun to be -9.2 degrees and 263.2 degrees respectively. Civil twilight was 1858. An on-scene examination of the accident revealed the wreckage distribution was in the northwest direction. The terrain in the accident site rose to the northwest and north. No preimpact anomalies were found. The pilot was fatally injured.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,041 hours in all; 132 in the last 30 days; 993 as pilot in command; 265 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 980 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OTM Ottumwa IA at 8:10 pm
- Destination: 9D0 Highmore SD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 14 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:25 pm from DNS, 13 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.
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.