Amateur-built KR-2 accident near Denton, Texas, December 16, 1998
On December 16, 1998 at about 11:26 pm local time, a amateur-built KR-2, registered N202DP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Denton, Texas (Denton Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of control as result of his improper recovery from a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 16, 1998 · about 11:26 pm local time
- Place
- Denton, Texas · Denton Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KR-2
- Registration
- N202DP · no longer on the register · serial 01
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A witness stated that the tricycle gear equipped airplane landed hard and bounced about 15 feet up into the air. The witness further stated that 'he expected the pilot of the homebuilt airplane to add power and recover, but instead the airplane dropped onto the runway in a nose down attitude in a slight right turn.' In a brief statement, the pilot stated that he 'hit the runway too hard and bounced.' The pilot did not have any further recollection of the accident. The passenger, who was seated in the right seat, stated in the enclosed passenger statement form that 'the aircraft bounced upon contact with the runway.' The passenger added that 'some seconds later I could no longer see the runway because we were in a high pitch attitude.' The passenger concludes that 'it was not long before the aircraft rolled over on its back to the right and crashed.' The airplane came to rest in the inverted position on the right side of the runway. The homebuilt airplane, which was not equipped with shoulder harnesses, had accumulated a total of 58 flight hours since new.
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: 500 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 450 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 58 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 28, 1997; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen VW 2180 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DTO at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 5,999 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from DTO, 1 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.