Amateur-built KR-2 accident near Middletown, Delaware, June 11, 1982
On June 11, 1982 at about 8:10 pm local time, a amateur-built KR-2, registered N38DR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Middletown, Delaware. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- June 11, 1982 · about 8:10 pm local time
- Place
- Middletown, Delaware
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KR-2
- Registration
- N38DR · registry record · serial 218407674
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENG FAILED ON THE DOWNWIND LEG AFTER THE PLT APPLIED CARB HEAT. THE PLT ATTEMPTED A POWER-OFF APPROACH TO THE RWY BUT ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE FROM ANOTHER ACFT PASSING BELOW HIM ON FINAL CAUSING HIM TO LOSE CONTROL & ENTER A SPIN. AFTER RECOVERY THE ACFT PASSED UNDER WIRES & CRASHED INTO A CORN FIELD. THE ENG WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN AFTER-MARKET CARB. DISASSEMBLY REVEALED THE MAIN METERING JET WAS BLOCKED WITH RUBBER FROM A DISINTEGRATED "O" RING INTENDED TO SEAL THE JET IN THE CARB BODY.
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: 234 hours in all; 48 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rev. MASTER (VW) (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Summit Airpark DE at 3:10 pm
- Destination: Summit Airpark DE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 167°F (75°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.