Amateur-built KR-1 accident near Seal Beach, California, July 23, 1983
On July 23, 1983 at about 6:10 pm local time, a amateur-built KR-1, registered N98BB, was destroyed in an accident near Seal Beach, California. 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
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
- July 23, 1983 · about 6:10 pm local time
- Place
- Seal Beach, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KR-1
- Registration
- N98BB · registry record · serial BB2-78-KR1VW
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO A WITNESS, THE ACFT APCHD AT ABOUT 1000 FT, MADE 3 CIRCLES & HEADED IN AN EASTERLY DIRECTION. THE ACFT WAS THEN OBSERVED TO MAKE A STEEP BANKED TURN TOWARD THE WITNESS AT AN ESTIMATED ALTITUDE OF 200 TO 300 FT ABOVE THE WATER. IT THEN NOSED DOWN, ROLLED OVER & ENTER A DIVE WITH FULL POWER, HITTING THE WATER, NOSE & 1 WING 1ST. ENOUGH OF THE WRECKAGE WAS RECOVERED TO DETERMINE THAT ALL CONTROLS WERE INTACT & HAD MAINTAINED CONTINUITY. THE ENG WAS NOT RECOVERED.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Volkswagen 1622CC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CA Corona CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 7°F (-14°C)
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.