Amateur-built KR-1 CATFISH accident near Slaton, Texas, April 25, 1982
On April 25, 1982 at about 2:45 pm local time, a amateur-built KR-1 CATFISH, registered N8036A, was destroyed in an accident near Slaton, Texas. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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
- April 25, 1982 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Slaton, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KR-1 CATFISH KR-1 CATFI
- Registration
- N8036A · registry record · serial 1
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HOME BUILT AIRCRAFT WAS ON ITS INITIAL TEST FLIGHT. AFTER COMPLETING TWO TAKEOFF RUNS SUCCESSFULLY, THE PILOT ELECTED TO FLY THE AIRCRAFT AROUND THE LOCAL PATTERN. WHILE CLIMBING ABOUT 1/4 MILE FROM THE RUNWAY, THE ENGINE BEGAN MISSING. THE PILOT TURNED BACK TOWARD THE AIRPORT, AND AT ABOUT 200 FT AGL, LOST ALL POWER. HE MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A PLOWED FIELD, BUT AFTER ROLLING ABOUT 40 TO 50 FT, THE PLANE NOSED OVER AND WAS DEMOLISHED. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE AT THE AIRPORT WAS ABOUT 3600 FT.
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: 750 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagon 1300CC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Slaton TX at 9:35 am
- Destination: Slaton TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 315° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 127°F (53°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.