# NTSB LAX01LA238: Sparks KR-2, N122MS, San Diego, CA, July 7, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 7, 2001, 13:10 local (20:10 UTC) - Place: San Diego, CA - Coordinates: 32.850521, -116.989028 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8505&lon=-116.9890&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 28, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 52648 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA238 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52648/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA238 ## Probable cause Failure of the pilot to maintain directional control during landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - variable wind - In flight collision with object, landing - object - runway light - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot, who was the original owner and builder of this aircraft, stated that while he was decelerating during his landing rollout, he encountered a gust of wind from the left, which caused the airplane to become airborne again with the left wing high. He added power and avoided a stall, but had drifted off the runway. The left main landing gear hit a runway light, causing the airplane to ground loop, which damaged the outboard 2 feet of the left wing. The pilot stated that he would repair the wing and fly the airplane again. He stated that the damage was easy to repair and woud take only a few days to complete. According to the pilot, he had approximately 2,000 hours of flight time, 700 of which was in the accident airplane. He had logged 50 hours in this airplane within the last 90 days. When asked how he could prevent this accident from happening in the future, he stated "Don't go flying." ## Factual narrative On Saturday, July 7, 2001, at 1310 hours Pacific daylight time, a Sparks KR-2, N122MS, was substantially damaged when it struck a runway light at Gillespie Field, San Diego, California. The private pilot, who was the only occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was conducted by the owner under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane departed Brown Field, San Diego, at 1250 for the flight to Gillespie Field, where the accident occurred. No flight plan was filed. The pilot, who was the original owner and builder of this aircraft, was interviewed by an investigator from the National Transportation Safety Board shortly after the accident. He stated that while he was decelerating during his landing rollout, he encountered a gust of wind from the left, which caused the airplane to become airborne again with the left wing high. He added power and avoided a stall, but had drifted off the runway. The left main landing gear hit a runway light, causing the airplane to ground loop, which damaged the outboard 2 feet of the left wing when it contacted the ground. The pilot stated that he would repair the wing and fly the airplane again. He stated that the damage was easy to repair and would take only a few days to complete. According to the pilot, he had approximately 2,000 hours of flight time, 700 of which was in the accident airplane. He had logged 50 hours in this airplane within the last 90 days. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N122MS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N122MS-2014-08-28), registration cancelled 2014-08-28, S/N MS-2, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Sparks KR-2 - Registry model: [Sparks Manuel KR-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/sparks-manuel-kr-2) (registry code 05648JG) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Volkswagen CONVERSION](https://openairdocs.org/engine/volkswagen-conversion) (registry code 63501, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: MS-2 - Airframe hours: 700 - Engines: Volkswagen 1834 60 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Manuel Sparks - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2000, 10 hours before - Departed: SDM, Montgomery, CA - Destination: SEE, Gillespie, CA - Airport: SEE, Gillespie Field, runway 27L, 2,737 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 2, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 2,000 total, 700 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 8 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 18,000 ft broken - Temperature: 86 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KSEE ## 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 20010707015559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010707015559A), Jul 7, 2001: Amtr KR2, El Cajon, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) On Saturday, July 7, 2001, at approximately 1525 hours PST, N122MS, a KR-2 experimental aircraft sustained substantial damage while attempting to land at… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.