# NTSB DEN84FTM01: Keith A Smith KR-2, N54KS, Salt Lake City, UT, February 26, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: February 26, 1984, 00:00 local (07:00 UTC)
- Place: Salt Lake City, UT
- Coordinates: 40.809165, -111.939956 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8092&lon=-111.9400&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16254
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84FTM01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16254/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84FTM01

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, maneuvering
  - mixture control - incorrect (cause)
  - maintenance,adjustment - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - lack of total experience, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
  - engine assembly,piston - overtemperature (cause)
  - engine assembly,valve,intake - overtemperature (cause)
- Forced landing, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A MOUNTAIN RIDGE IN A FLAT'PANCAKE'ATTITUDE,NO EVIDENCE OF FOWARD MOTION WAS APPARENT AND ALL THEWRECKAGE WAS CONFINED TO THE IMMEDIATE AREA. THE WOODEN PROP WAS INTACT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 2 INCHES MISSING FROM THE END OF ONE BLADE, AND NO ROTATIONAL DAMAGE WA NOTED. THE FUSELAGE WAS TWISTED TO THE RIGHT AND DETACHED FROM THE WINGS. ROCK UNDER THE WRECKAGE WERE PRESSED STRAIGHT DOWN INTO THE SURFACE. THE ACCIDENT LOCATION WAS ABOUT 1/2 WAY UP A 6500 FT RIDGE WHICH FORMED A BOX CANYON KNOW AS DEADMAN'S WASH. THE ENGINE LOG WAS NOTED FOR ALL FLTS & INDICATED THE ENGINE HAD AN OVERHEAT PROBLEM. THIS ENGINE WAS BUILT AS'NEW'BY THE PLT FROM PARTS AND PLANS AS OBTAINED FROM HAPI ENGINES. THE PLT HAD LIMITED EXPERIENCE WITH POWERPLANTS. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION SHOWED THAT THE MIXTURE CONTROL METERING ROD WAS NOTED TO HAVE ONLY HALF OF THE METERING ORFICE OPEN AT FULL RICH MIXTURE. THIS WOULD CAUSE A LEAN MIXTURE AT FULL RICH. THE PISTONS AND VALVES SHOWED EVIDENCE OF OPERATING AT EXCESSIVE TEMPERATURES WITH EXCESSIVE WEAR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N54KS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N54KS-1984-06-21), registration cancelled 1984-06-21, S/N 3923 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: KEITH A SMITH KR-2
- Registry model: [Smith RAND KR2](https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-rand-kr2) (registry code 05648P1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 3923
- Airframe hours: 15
- Engines: VOLKSWAGEN 1835 60 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Keith A Smith
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Unknown, November 3, 1983, 15 hours before
- Departed: U42, WEST JORDAN, UT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 221 total, 5 in this make and model, 189 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SLC, 15 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19840226004789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840226004789A), Feb 26, 1984: Amtr KR2, Salt Lake City, UT, Destroyed. Aircraft crashed at 5280 foot level. Flight was test flight to check engine performance.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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