# NTSB LAX92LA100: James Houston KR2, N87JJ, Chandler, AZ, January 24, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 24, 1992, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Chandler, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.239379, -111.78022 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2394&lon=-111.7802&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report August 13, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27544
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92LA100
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27544/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA100

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, MISJUDGING THE AIRPLANE'S ALTITUDE, FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT AND EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED.  CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS AN UNDETERMINED LOSS OF POWER AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing
  - emergency procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT DEPARTED RUNWAY 17.  SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ERRATICALLY; GAINING POWER THEN LOSING POWER.  THE PILOT EXECUTED A 180 DEGREE TURN TO LAND ON RUNWAY 35.  AFTER CLEARING THE POWER LINES THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN AT A HIGH SPEED SIMULTANEOUSLY STRIKING THE RIGHT WING AND RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR.  THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED AND THE PILOT PUSHED THE NOSE OVER AND TOUCHED DOWN AT MIDFIELD.  THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE RUNWAY AGAIN IN A RIGHT WING, NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE.  THE AIRPLANE ROTATED TO THE RIGHT AND DISINTEGRATED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N87JJ (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: JAMES HOUSTON KR2
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 7120
- Engines: VOLKSWAGEN 2200 70 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Burton, Phillip A.
- Registered owner: Burton, Phillip A.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, January 2, 2000
- Airport: P19, Stellar Airpark, runway 35, 4,005 × 55 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 160 total, 1 in this make and model, 138 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- 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 19920124000989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920124000989A), Jan 24, 1992: Amtr KR2, Chandler, AZ, Destroyed. Unskilled in tailwheel aircraft. Lost control on fast downwind landing. Ground looped. Aircraft totally destroyed.

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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