Amateur-built KR-2 accident near San Diego, California, June 18, 1998
On June 18, 1998 at about 11:15 pm local time, a amateur-built KR-2, registered N687RL, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Diego, California (Gillespie Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to attain/maintain adequate airspeed during an attempted go-around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 18, 1998 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- San Diego, California · Gillespie Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KR-2
- Registration
- N687RL · no longer on the register · serial RLO-1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he had been cleared to land and after touchdown the aircraft bounced twice. A go-around was initiated, the left wing dropped, and the airplane turned to the left. The pilot stated that the aircraft may have entered a partial stall. The left wing struck the runway and the aircraft cartwheeled and came to rest on its belly.
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: 309 hours in all; 208 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 268 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 239 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1997; 27 hours since
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Volkswagen (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SDM CA at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27L, 2,737 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:10 pm from SEE
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.