Amateur-built KB-2 accident near Wharton, Texas, July 14, 1989
On July 14, 1989, a amateur-built KB-2 (gyroplane), registered N7037K, was destroyed in an accident near Wharton, Texas. 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
POOR JUDGEMENT BY THE STUDENT PILOT BY PERFORMING EXCESSIVE/LOW ALTITUDE MANEUVERS, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT CLEARANCE (ALTITUDE) ABOVE THE OPEN FIELD. HIS LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRCRAFT WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 1989
- Place
- Wharton, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KB-2
- Registration
- N7037K · no longer on the register · serial 6654
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT OF N7037K WAS IN A FLT OF 2 GYROPLANES, FLYING IN-TRAIL OF THE OTHER ACFT. WHEN LAST SEEN BY THE LEAD PLT, N7037K WAS BEHIND, MAKING A DIVING MANEUVER TOWARD THE GROUND. THE LEAD PLT STATED THAT THRU-OUT THEIR FLT, THE PLT OF THE ADCNT ACFT HAD BEEN FLYING AT ALTITUDES RANGING FM 1000' AGL TO 50' AGL, MAKING STEEP TURNS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO TREES & TERRAIN. THE LEAD PLT DID NOT SEE N7037K CRASH, BUT FOUND IT LATER, IN THE VICINITY OF WHERE HE LAST SAW IT. N7037K WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGE; THERE WAS LITTLE FORWARD MOVEMENT OF THE GYROPLANE AFTER IMPACT. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL FAILURE WAS FOUND. THERE WERE NO KNOWN WITNESSES TO THE ACDNT. THE PLT OF N7037K HELD ONLY A STUDENT PLT CERTIFICATE.
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: student
- Flight time: 16 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 16 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 16 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 10, 1989; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 550 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Mcculloch AFO-0100-3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5R5 Wharton TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 145° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,500 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 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.