# NTSB LAX87DVM04: Rand KR-2, N75JL, Watsonville, CA, June 27, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report
- Date: June 27, 1987, 08:55 local (15:55 UTC)
- Place: Watsonville, CA
- Coordinates: 36.950908, -121.720176 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9509&lon=-121.7202&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report May 27, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25349
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87DVM04
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25349/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87DVM04

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, climb - to cruise
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

SHORTLY AFTER TAKE-OFF ON RUNWAY 19, THE ENGINE BEGAN 'SPUTTERING' AND LOSING POWER. THE PILOT TRIED ADJUSTING MIXTURE AND THROTTLE CONTROLS. THE ENGINE CONTINUED 'SPUTTERING' AND LOSING POWER AND THE PILOT INITIATED AN EMERGENCY DESCENT. HAVING GAINED NO MORE THAN 200' AGL, AND DUE TO TERRAIN FACTORS THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO DESCEND OVER A LINE OF TREES AND LAND IN A FIELD. THE PILOT COULD NOT MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO CLEAR THE TREES AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. THE PILOT DISASSEMBLED THE ENGINE AND FOUND NO BROKEN PARTS. HOWEVER, HE NOTED AN UNIDENTIFIED WHITE CHALKY SUBSTANCE IN AND AROUND THE 'LEFT' TWO CYLINDERS. THE LOSS OF POWER WAS NOT DETERMINED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N75JL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N75JL-2013-06-07), registration cancelled 2013-06-07, S/N 6640, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RAND KR-2
- Registry model: [Lewis James E KR-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/lewis-james-e-kr-2) (registry code 05648SH) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 6640
- Engines: VOLKSWAGEN 2100 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Victor Myev
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: WVI, WATSONVILLE, CA
- Airport: Watsonville, runway 19, 4,500 × 0 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 2,200 total, 1,695 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 70 °F

## 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 19870627027539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870627027539A), Jun 27, 1987: Amtr KR2, Watsonville, CA, Destroyed. The engine lost power shortly after takeoff and the aircraft landed in trees. First flight

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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