- Date
- February 17, 1996, 14:14 local (22:14 UTC)
- Place
- San Diego, CA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N395DSSteeves KR2
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 19, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960217001909A
- Case key
- 29376
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
failure of the pilot to maintain an adequate airspeed margin above stall, while at low altitude in the traffic pattern. His decision to explore the slow speed envelope of the aircraft at low altitude was a related factor.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The aircraft sat in storage for about 2 years with the wings off. After reassembly, the owner asked the pilot to test the aircraft. The ceiling was 1,000' overcast, and the pilot elected to fly the aircraft in the traffic pattern. The pilot made a short flight around the pattern, then landed and a minor discrepancy was fixed. He then departed on a second flight and made several low passes along the runway. The aircraft was on downwind when the aircraft owner and other witnesses saw it decelerate as if the pilot were exploring the slow flight regime. The aircraft appeared to stall, fall off on the right wing, and enter a spin that continued to ground impact. No discrepancies were found during an examination of the airframe and engine. The aircraft speed brakes were found extended. Control system continuity was established.
Factual narrative
On February 17, 1996, at 1414 hours Pacific standard time, a Steeves KR2 homebuilt experimental airplane, N395DS, collided with the ground following a loss of control while in the traffic pattern at Brown Field, San Diego, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the operation. The aircraft was destroyed in the ground collision sequence. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. The flight originated at Brown Field about 1400 on the day of the accident as a local area personal flight.
According to FAA inspectors who responded to the accident site, examined the aircraft, and interviewed witnesses, the aircraft sat in storage for 2 years with the wings off. After reassembly, the owner asked the pilot to test the aircraft. The ceiling was 1,000 foot overcast and the pilot elected to fly the aircraft in the traffic pattern. The pilot flew the aircraft on a short flight around the pattern and a minor discrepancy was fixed. He then departed on the second flight and made several low passes along the runway. The aircraft was on downwind when the aircraft owner and other witnesses saw the aircraft noticeably slow down as if the pilot were exploring the slow flight regime. The aircraft appeared to stall, fall off on the right wing, and enter a spin that continued to ground impact.
The FAA inspectors said that no discrepancies were found during the examination of the airframe and engine. The aircraft speed brakes were found extended. Control system continuity was established.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N395DS
- Reported as
- Steeves KR2
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 1394
- Airframe hours
- 143
- Engine
- Volkswagen 2180CC, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Ronald L. Moore
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 1, 1996 · 2 hours before
- Departed
- SDM
- Airport
- SDM · Brown Field
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 36
- Certificates
- Commercial, Military, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane, Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 1,000 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SDM
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.