Amateur-built KR-2 accident near Nashville, North Carolina, April 7, 2001
On April 7, 2001 at about 3:20 pm local time, a amateur-built KR-2, registered N8089K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nashville, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper preflight inspection, which resulted in his operating an aircraft with contaminated fuel that resulted in a loss of engine power and and a forced landing to a field and damage to the aircraft during the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 7, 2001 · about 3:20 pm local time
- Place
- Nashville, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KR-2
- Registration
- N8089K · no longer on the register · serial 4924
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he was at cruise altitude, and had been airborne for about an hour when he decided to transfer fuel from the right wing tank. He said about 2 minutes after transferring fuel, the engine started to "cut out", and then it ceased operating. The pilot said he then executed a forced landing to a field, and during the landing the airplane incurred substantial damage. Postcrash examination of the aircraft by an FAA licensed mechanic with inspection authorization, revealed that the carburetor drain plug had drops of moisture that did not appear to be fuel. In addition, the examination revealed that the gascolator fuel bowl, mounted on the firewall, was full of water and debris. According the mechanic, the fuel bowl had a drain valve that was clogged.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,306 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 3,110 as pilot in command; 697 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 22, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 95 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2001; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 982 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Volkswagen 1835cc (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PTB Petersburg VA at 2:15 pm
- Destination: OGB Orangeburg SC
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from RWI
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.
Other NTSB records under N8089K the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.