Amateur-built KR-2 accident near Salt Lake City, Utah, February 26, 1984
On February 26, 1984 at about 7:00 am local time, a amateur-built KR-2, registered N54KS, was destroyed in an accident near Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 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
- February 26, 1984 · about 7:00 am local time
- Place
- Salt Lake City, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KR-2
- Registration
- N54KS · registry record · serial 3923
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A MOUNTAIN RIDGE IN A FLAT'PANCAKE'ATTITUDE,NO EVIDENCE OF FOWARD MOTION WAS APPARENT AND ALL THEWRECKAGE WAS CONFINED TO THE IMMEDIATE AREA. THE WOODEN PROP WAS INTACT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 2 INCHES MISSING FROM THE END OF ONE BLADE, AND NO ROTATIONAL DAMAGE WA NOTED. THE FUSELAGE WAS TWISTED TO THE RIGHT AND DETACHED FROM THE WINGS. ROCK UNDER THE WRECKAGE WERE PRESSED STRAIGHT DOWN INTO THE SURFACE. THE ACCIDENT LOCATION WAS ABOUT 1/2 WAY UP A 6500 FT RIDGE WHICH FORMED A BOX CANYON KNOW AS DEADMAN'S WASH. THE ENGINE LOG WAS NOTED FOR ALL FLTS & INDICATED THE ENGINE HAD AN OVERHEAT PROBLEM. THIS ENGINE WAS BUILT AS'NEW'BY THE PLT FROM PARTS AND PLANS AS OBTAINED FROM HAPI ENGINES. THE PLT HAD LIMITED EXPERIENCE WITH POWERPLANTS. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION SHOWED THAT THE MIXTURE CONTROL METERING ROD WAS NOTED TO HAVE ONLY HALF OF THE METERING ORFICE OPEN AT FULL RICH MIXTURE. THIS WOULD CAUSE A LEAN MIXTURE AT FULL RICH. THE PISTONS AND VALVES SHOWED EVIDENCE OF OPERATING AT EXCESSIVE TEMPERATURES WITH EXCESSIVE WEAR.
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: 221 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 189 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, November 3, 1983; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Volkswagen 1835 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: U42 West Jordan UT at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from SLC, 15 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.