Amateur-built RAND KR2 accident near Grants, New Mexico, July 29, 1984
On July 29, 1984 at about 4:50 pm local time, a amateur-built RAND KR2, registered N81JD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grants, New Mexico (Grants airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 29, 1984 · about 4:50 pm local time
- Place
- Grants, New Mexico · Grants · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RAND KR2
- Registration
- N81JD · registry record · serial D18
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS LANDED DEAD STICK ON A BLACK-TOP ROAD AFTER THE ENG LOST OIL PRESS DUE TO A LARGE LEAK IN AN OIL SEAL DURING CRUISE FLT. DURING THE LNDG THE LEFT WG HIT A SIGN POST ALONGSIDE A BRIDGE AND THE WING TIP PLUS THE ALIERON WERE SHEARED OFF. THE RESULTING SWERVING SIDE LOADS AND BOUNCES FAILED THE MAIN LNDG GEAR. THE ENG HAD SEIZED DUE TO LOSS OF OIL. THE PLT SAID HE KEPT IT RUNNING AT MINIMUM OIL PRESSURE UNTIL IT STARTED VIBRATING & KNOCKING TO CLEAR A MAJOR INTERSTATE HIWAY (I-40).
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: 2,138 hours in all; 182 in this make and model; 1,582 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 9, 1984
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Volkswagen 1834 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GNT Grants NM
- Destination: ABQ Albuquerque NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 135° at 5 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 11:20 am
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.