Amateur-built KR-2 accident near Boca Raton, Florida, March 1, 2012
On March 1, 2012 at about 12:45 pm local time, a amateur-built KR-2, registered N1701L, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern downwind) near Boca Raton, Florida (Boca Raton 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 failure of the airplane’s engine air inlet system resulting in a total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 1, 2012 · about 12:45 pm local time · cases in 2012
- Place
- Boca Raton, Florida · Boca Raton Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KR-2
- Registration
- N1701L · registry record · serial 4176
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he was turning from the downwind to the base leg of the traffic pattern when the airplane’s engine had a total loss of power. The pilot trimmed the airplane for its best glide speed and maneuvered the airplane toward the runway. However, the airplane impacted the airport’s perimeter fence, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. A postaccident examination revealed that the engine air inlet cowling ducting had separated from its attaching material, and the ducting tube slid into the engine air flow control box, blocking the carburetor’s air inlet.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern downwind) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Nacelles/pylons structure › Nacelle/pylon misc structure › Failure other cases naming the airframe structure
- Personnel issues › Miscellaneous › (general) › (general) › Owner/builder
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,568 hours in all; 260 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: April 23, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 259 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, December 21, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Corvair 2700 CC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BCT Boca Raton FL
- Destination: BCT Boca Raton FL
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 23, 6,276 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 12:50 pm from BCT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on September 7, 2012. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N1701L the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N1701L on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Corvair 2700 CC 8 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Boca Raton Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Florida 6,111 since 1982 · 984 in the last ten years
- Florida 21,704 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N1701L 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA12CA198.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.