Amateur-built KR-2 accident near Watkins, Colorado, January 15, 1996
On January 15, 1996 at about 11:45 pm local time, a amateur-built KR-2, registered N8019C, was destroyed in an accident near Watkins, Colorado (Front Range airport). 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
Failure by the pilot to maintain control of the aircraft. Factors were a lack of familiarity with the aircraft and lack of experience in the make and model.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 15, 1996 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Watkins, Colorado · Front Range · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KR-2
- Registration
- N8019C · no longer on the register · serial 1
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had recently purchased the aircraft and had a condition inspection performed by a mechanic. When the inspection was complete, he told the mechanic he was going to perform some taxi tests. A short time later persons on the ramp observed smoke off the end of one of the runways. On investigation, they found the aircraft burning in a plowed field approximately 400 feet off the approach end of the runway. Whether the aircraft became airborne inadvertently or the pilot decided to fly the aircraft is unknown. The aircraft was constructed from wood, foam, and fiberglass. A high level of cyanide was found during toxicological testing and the autopsy found evidence of smoke inhalation and pulmonary edema along with thermal injuries. The other injuries were non lethal. Cyanide is a product of foam when exposed to the extreme heat associated with combustion. There was no evidence found to indicate preimpact fire.
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: 138 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 55 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 150 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, January 15, 1996; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 975 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 1834CC (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: FTG
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 8,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 19°F (-7°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.