Karl & Dot, Inc. Comp Air 7SL accident near Cross Keys, New Jersey, June 1, 2002
On June 1, 2002 at about 11:00 am local time, a Karl & Dot, Inc. Comp Air 7SL, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N753KD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cross Keys, New Jersey (Cross Keys Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Fatigue fracture of the tail wheel spring, which resulted in a loss of control and impact with a ditch.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 1, 2002 · about 11:00 am local time
- Place
- Cross Keys, New Jersey · Cross Keys Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Karl & Dot, Inc. Comp Air 7SL, amateur-built
- Registration
- N753KD · no longer on the register · serial 017257SL
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a landing rollout, the homebuilt airplane's tailwheel spring fractured, and the assembly jammed the rudder. The airplane veered off the runway and came to rest in a drainage ditch. The main landing gear collapsed, and the fuselage and wings were damaged. Previous damage, including beach marks and rust, were found on the spring's fracture surfaces.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,830 hours in all; 93 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 1,573 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 9, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 115 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, August 17, 2001; 115 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Walter 610D (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7N7 Pedricktown NJ at 10:15 am
- Destination: 17N Cross Keys NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.75 inHg
- Observation at 10:54 am from PHL, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.