Amateur-built KR-2 accident near San Marcos, Texas, January 4, 1992
On January 4, 1992 at about 10:55 pm local time, a amateur-built KR-2, registered N651AC, was destroyed in an accident near San Marcos, 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 MODIFICATION OF THE CANOPY HINGE SYSTEM WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL DUE TO AN INFLIGHT CANOPY SEPARATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 4, 1992 · about 10:55 pm local time
- Place
- San Marcos, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KR-2
- Registration
- N651AC · no longer on the register · serial 01
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT/BUILDER OF THE HOMEBUILT AIRCRAFT WAS ON A LOCAL FLIGHT TO DEMONSTRATE THE AIRCRAFT FLIGHT CHARACTERISTICS TO A PROSPECTIVE BUILDER. WHILE MANEUVERING, THE ONE PIECE PLEXIGLASS CANOPY SEPARATED FROM THE AIRFRAME DUE TO FAILURE OF THE HINGE SYSTEM, RESULTING IN AN INFLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL. THE PILOT HAD MODIFIED THE CANOPY HINGE SYSTEM FROM THE STANDARD TWO HINGE SYSTEM, TO A FULL LENGTH PIANO WIRE HINGE SYSTEM. THE LOSS OF THE CANOPY IN SUCH A SHORT COUPLED FUSELAGE DISTURBED THE AIRFLOW TO THE POINT OF BLANKETING THE ELEVATORS.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 413 hours in all; 350 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 350 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 2180CC (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 3R5 New Braunfels TX at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from AUS, 33 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.