Amateur-built KR-2 accident near Grants Pass, Oregon, April 6, 1997
On April 6, 1997 at about 9:30 pm local time, a amateur-built KR-2, registered N4GJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grants Pass, Oregon (Grants Pass Airport). It was an instructional 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 pilot's failure to adequately compensate for wind conditions, his failure to maintain directional control on takeoff, and his failure to abort the takeoff. Factors contributing to the accident are gusty crosswinds.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 6, 1997 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Grants Pass, Oregon · Grants Pass Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KR-2
- Registration
- N4GJ · no longer on the register · serial 1620
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The solo student pilot decided to take off in a homebuilt airplane equipped with a tail wheel. Gusting crosswind conditions prevailed at the time of the takeoff. During the takeoff roll, the airplane became airborne, veered off the runway, then settled onto the ground again. The pilot elected to continue the takeoff and the airplane impacted thick vegetation immediately after lifting off the ground the second time. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions were reported.
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: student
- Flight time: 123 hours in all; 38 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 44 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Volkswagen VW-1865 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 3,999 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 8 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,200 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from SXT, 6 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.
Other NTSB records under N4GJ the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.