Amateur-built KR-2 accident near Hillsboro, Oregon, July 22, 1983
On July 22, 1983 at about 2:33 am local time, a amateur-built KR-2, registered N3382F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hillsboro, Oregon (Hillsboro airport). 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
- July 22, 1983 · about 2:33 am local time
- Place
- Hillsboro, Oregon · Hillsboro · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KR-2
- Registration
- N3382F · no longer on the register · serial 4297
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT LOST POWER AT ABOUT 100 FT AGL DURING TAKEOFF. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING STRAIGHT AHEAD INTO A GRAIN FIELD. THE HIGH VEGETATION CAUSED ENOUGH DRAG ON THE LANDING GEAR TO NOSE THE ACFT OVER. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE HIGH TENSION LEAD FROM THE COIL TO THE DISTRIBUTOR WAS CRACKED AT THE DISTRIBUTOR CONNECTION AND WAS MAKING INTERMITTENT CONTACT. THIS WAS A HOMEBUILT ACFT WITH AN AUTOMOTIVE-TYPE ENGINE. THE OWNER/BUILDER SAID THAT THE DISTRIBUTOR LEAD IN QUESTION AND POINTS AND CONDENSER WERE INSTALLED ONLY ONE HALF HOUR FLYING TIME BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.
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: 120 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 59 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, February 7, 1983; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 1834CC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 4,049 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:48 am from PDX, 15 miles away
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.