# NTSB DEN85FTI04: Failing/Rand-Robinson KR-2, N8483Y, Laurel, MT, June 22, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: June 22, 1985, 07:17 local (13:17 UTC)
- Place: Laurel, MT
- Coordinates: 45.599437, -108.680908 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5994&lon=-108.6809&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16571
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85FTI04
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16571/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85FTI04

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - base turn
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

DRG A TEST FLT, THE PLT MADE A FAST TAXI RUN, THEN TOOK OFF ON RWY 21. AFTER TAKEOFF, HE MADE A GRADUAL CLIMB & SHALLOW LEFT TURNS TO A DOWNWIND, CIRCLED THE ARPT & REENTERED A DOWNWIND FOR RWY 21. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE PLT MADE A POWER REDUCTION & BEGAN A SHALLOW BASE TURN. THE LEFT WING THEN DROPPED & THE ACFT ENTERED A SPIN. AFTER SPINNING ABOUT 2/3 OF A TURN, THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A STEEP DSCNT. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FND. THE PLT HAD LOGGED NO FLT TIME FOR KR-2 ACFT; HOWEVER, HE HAD PREVIOUSLY FLOWN N8483Y ON 1/26/84. ON THAT FLT, HE HAD A PROBLEM WITH BEING UNFAMILIAR WITH THE SENSITIVITY OF THE FLT CONTROLS & DECIDED TO ABORT. DURING THE LANDING (ON 1/26/84), THE LANDING GEAR & PROP WERE DAMAGED. TOXICOLOGY TESTS SHOWED THAT THE PLT HAD A BLOOD/ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 47 MG% (0.047%), BUT NO ALCOHOL WAS FND IN HIS URINE. THE AMOUNT OF BLOOD/ALCOHOL DUE TO PUTREFACTION WAS NOT VERIFIED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N8483Y (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: FAILING/RAND-ROBINSON KR-2
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 2560
- Airframe hours: 17
- Engines: Revmaster 2100D 76 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Paul R. Schulz
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 6, 1985, 0 hours before
- Departed: 6S8
- Destination: 6S8
- Airport: 6S8, Laurel, runway 21, 3,800 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 701 total, 1 in this make and model, 682 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BIL, 11 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 19850622026959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850622026959A), Jun 22, 1985: Amtr KR2, Laurel, MT, Destroyed. During test flight in pattern power was reduced left wing dropped and aircraft spun to ground. Impaired by alcohol.

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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