Amateur-built KR-2 accident near Kenosha, Wisconsin, May 27, 1990
On May 27, 1990 at about 4:10 pm local time, a amateur-built KR-2, registered N777BG, was destroyed in an accident near Kenosha, Wisconsin (Kenosha Municipal airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, WHILE FLYING IT WITH A LATERALLY IMBALANCED CONDITION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S LACK OF FLYING EXPERIENCE, AND HIS LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THIS AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 27, 1990 · about 4:10 pm local time
- Place
- Kenosha, Wisconsin · Kenosha Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KR-2
- Registration
- N777BG · no longer on the register · serial 9240
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING THE INITIAL FLIGHT IN THE AMATEUR BUILT EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT CONTAINED 12 GALLONS OF FUEL; ALL IN THE LEFT WING. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB, THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED AN UNCOMMANDED ROLL TO THE LEFT, WHICH THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO ARREST WITH CONTROL INPUTS. THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY.
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: 105 hours in all; 20 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 65 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, May 16, 1990; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Volkswagen 2180 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6L, 5,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 001° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:10 pm from MKE, 25 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.