Amateur-built KR-1 accident near Johnstown, Pennsylvania, July 30, 1983
On July 30, 1983 at about 11:05 pm local time, a amateur-built KR-1, registered N80190, was destroyed in an accident near Johnstown, Pennsylvania (Johnstown-Cambria County airport). 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 30, 1983 · about 11:05 pm local time
- Place
- Johnstown, Pennsylvania · Johnstown-Cambria County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KR-1
- Registration
- N80190 · registry record · serial 192-01-7391
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND AFTER TAKEOFF. THE WEATHER WAS VMC AND NO FLT PLAN WAS FILED. THE ACFT WAS AN AMATEUR/EXPERIMENTAL KR-1 WITH A VW 2100 CC ENGINE, MAINTAINED UNDER A CONDITION INSPECTION PROGRAM PERFORMED BY THE OWNER. INVESTIGATION AT THE SCENE INDICATED THAT THE ACFT IMPACTED SEVERAL TREES AT A MODERATE RATE OF SPEED AND A STEEP APPROACH ANGLE. THE ACFT HAD TURNED ABOUT 90 DEGREES TO THE LEFT FROM THE TAKEOFF HEADING OF 230 CAME TO REST 300 FT FROM INITIAL IMPACT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ACFT CARBURETOR HAD BEEN REPLACED WITH ANOTHER CARBURETOR AND THE FUEL LINE FROM GASCOLATOR TO THE CARBURETOR MADE A SHARP BEND WITH A KINK IN THE HOSE. THE CARBURETOR FLOAT WAS NOT OF RECOMMENDED SIZE AND SOME OF THE COPPER FUEL LINES FROM TANK TO CARBURETOR HADBEEN CUT WITH A TUBE CUTTER WITH METAL EXTENDING OVER THE HOLES, WHICH HAD NOT BEEN CLEANED OUT. THREE OF THE SPARK PLUGS WOULD NOT FIRE AT 120 PSI; FIRING WAS NORMAL WHEN PRESSURE WAS DROPPED TO 100 PSI.
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: 1,015 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 64 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, July 7, 1983; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 720 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Volkswagen 211OCC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 4,470 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.