Amateur-built KR-2S accident near Wichita Falls, Texas, May 25, 2001
On May 25, 2001, a amateur-built KR-2S, registered N197DB, was destroyed in an accident near Wichita Falls, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control following a loss of engine power while maneuvering, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin. Contributing factors to the accident were the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, and the pilot's lack of total experience in the make and model of the accident airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 25, 2001
- Place
- Wichita Falls, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KR-2S
- Registration
- N197DB · registry record · serial 8688
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A witness observed the airplane in a "steep climb and high bank angle" when the engine lost power. The airplane spiraled down and impacted the ground "relatively flat". Examination of the airplane's fuel system by an FAA inspector revealed that the fuselage fuel tank was compromised, and the fuel lines to the wing fuel tanks were fractured. A law enforcement officer and emergency medical service personnel, who responded to the accident site, reported that there was an odor of fuel when they arrived on scene. Flight control continuity was established; however, the reason for the loss of engine power was not determined. According to the FAA inspector, the pilot had logged a total of 62 flight hours, of which 5 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane. .
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: 62 hours in all; 5 in this make and model
- Last flight review: October 27, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 131.8 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, April 10, 2001; 15.8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,930 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Subaru 98TB1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: F14 Wichita Falls TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 11:52 pm from SPS, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.