Amateur-built KR-2M accident near Gillette, Wyoming, December 25, 1992
On December 25, 1992 at about 11:32 pm local time, a amateur-built KR-2M, registered N302DC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gillette, Wyoming (Gillette Campbell County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
JAMMING OF THE NOSE LANDING GEAR DOOR OPENING MECHANISM AND THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S EXCESSIVE DESCENT RATE UPON TOUCHDOWN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 25, 1992 · about 11:32 pm local time
- Place
- Gillette, Wyoming · Gillette Campbell County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KR-2M
- Registration
- N302DC · registry record · serial 1613-2
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON DOWNWIND FOR RUNWAY 16 THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO EXTEND THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT'S NOSE LANDING GEAR. ATTEMPTS TO RETRACT THE MAIN GEAR FOR A GEAR UP LANDING WERE ALSO UNSUCCESSFUL. TOWER PERSONNEL REPORTED OBSERVING THE AIRCRAFT MAKE A HARD LANDING AT THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY DURING WHICH THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT BOUNCE AND SKIDDED TO A STOP AFTER AN APPROXIMATE 15 FOOT GROUND ROLL. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THE MECHANICAL NOSE LANDING GEAR DOOR OPENING MECHANISM HAD BOUND UP PREVENTING THE NOSE GEAR DOORS FROM OPENING AND SUBSEQUENT NOSE GEAR EXTENSION.
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: 296 hours in all; 180 in this make and model; 276 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 39 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,381 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental C-85-8FJ (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GCC at 10:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 7,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 7°F (-14°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.