Amateur-built KR-2 accident near Fallon, Nevada, January 25, 1987
On January 25, 1987 at about 8:12 pm local time, a amateur-built KR-2, registered N66996, was destroyed in an accident near Fallon, Nevada. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were 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
- January 25, 1987 · about 8:12 pm local time
- Place
- Fallon, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KR-2
- Registration
- N66996 · no longer on the register · serial 2366
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE OWNER AND AN ACQUAINTANCE, BOTH COMMERICALLY RATED PILOTS, DEPARTED FALLON, NEVADA, ON A PERSONAL FLIGHT TO A NEARBY TOWN. WITNESSES REPORTED OBSERVING THE AIRCRAFT ENGAGED IN MANEUVERS DESCRIBED AS STEEP TURNS AND SHARP DIVES A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. DURING THESE MANEUVERS THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED INTO A STALL-SPIN CONDITION. THE LOW ALTITUDE OF THE SPIN ENTRY PREVENTED A SUCCESSFUL RECOVERY PRIOR TO GROUND IMPACT. ALTHOUGH THE FLIGHT CONTROLS WERE ACCESSIBLE TO BOTH PILOTS IT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED WHICH PILOT ( OR WHETHER BOTH) WAS CONTROLLING THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE SPIN ENTRY. THE TYPE OF MANEUVERS AND THEIR DURATION WERE NOT CONSIDERED TO BE INDICATIVE OF A PILOT INCAPACITATION SCENARIO NOR WAS THERE ANY EVIDENCE OF A CONTROL DISCONTINUITY/MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE AIRCRAFT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 890 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Volkswagen UNKNOWN (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FLX Fallon NV
- Destination: 043 Yerington NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from NFL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.