Amateur-built KR II accident near Rapid City, South Dakota, June 7, 2004
On June 7, 2004 at about 7:02 pm local time, a amateur-built KR II, registered N250KB, was destroyed in an accident near Rapid City, South Dakota (Rapid City Regional 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
Failure of the engine rocker arm installation resulting in a loss of engine power. A contributing factor was the power lines.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 2004 · about 7:02 pm local time
- Place
- Rapid City, South Dakota · Rapid City Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KR II
- Registration
- N250KB · registry record · serial D-002
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The amateur-built airplane was destroyed by an in-flight collision with terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot reported that the takeoff was routine through 300-400 feet above ground level (agl) when the engine lost and then regained power. He was attempting to return to the airport when the engine lost power again. He reportedly turned to the left in order to avoid some hills in front of the aircraft. He maneuvered the aircraft again to avoid power lines "only to stall-slide into the terrain." The aircraft impacted the side of a small hill less than one-quarter mile west of the airport. A post-accident examination revealed that the left valve cover and rocker arms had separated from the engine. The valve cover and three of the four rocker arms were present in the vicinity of the engine. The fourth rocker arm was not located. The left side valve push rods had also separated from the engine and were located in the debris. The valve cover was dented in a manner consistent with impacts to the internal side of the cover.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,800 hours in all; 450 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: October 18, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Volkswagen 1834 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RAP Rapid City SD at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 8,701 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.68 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 pm from RAP
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.