# NTSB LAX99LA303: Nye KR-2, N71KN, Mariposa, CA, September 15, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 14, 1999, 18:10 local (Sep 15, 1999, 01:10 UTC) - Place: Mariposa, CA - Location: 37.4912° N, 119.9732° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Mariposa, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4912&lon=-119.9732&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report November 2, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47370 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX99LA303 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47370/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA303 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed margin while performing an intentional steep right bank turning maneuver, which resulted in a stall/mush and descent into terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - maneuver - intentional, pilot in command (cause) - maneuver - abrupt, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - encountered, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly ## Analysis Following a local area flight the amateur-built airplane returned to the departure airport and entered the traffic pattern. Following a touch-and-go landing, the airplane climbed to about 200 feet agl over the departure end of the runway and made an abrupt right roll to nearly a 90-degree bank angle. It then turned to a northerly heading, and, as it turned, descended in a wings vertical attitude into terrain near the runway end. Three persons reported they had seen the pilot perform the steep right turn departure maneuver on previous occasions. One witness reported that the engine was operating smoothly during the touch-and-go and until impact; a second reported the engine was operating smoothly during the touch-and-go but did not recall the engine sound during the descent to impact; and a third witness reported that the engine 'sputtered' during the climb and descent to impact. The aircraft impacted in a steep nose down attitude. There was fuel spilling from the aircraft and the aircraft's flight controls were continuous at the accident site. No heavy aircraft were reported to have preceded the aircraft on the departure runway. ## Factual narrative On September 14, 1999, at 1810 hours Pacific daylight time, a Nye KR-2, N71KN, was destroyed during an off-airport impact with trees and terrain shortly after takeoff from the Mariposa-Yosemite airport, Mariposa, California. The private pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight, which was operated by the owner under 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was filed for the local area flight. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Fresno Flight Standards District Office responded to the scene. Witnesses told the inspector that the aircraft departed from Mariposa about 1300 and was seen later maneuvering in the mountain valley north of the airport. The engine sound roared and subsided as the aircraft disappeared from view below mountain peaks. Three witnesses were interviewed by personnel from the Mariposa County Sheriff's Office. According to the sheriff's report, the witnesses reported that in the minutes before the accident, the aircraft returned to the airport and approached runway 26 in left-hand traffic. The aircraft made a touch-and-go landing on runway 26 and then climbed to about 200 feet agl over the departure end of the runway and made an abrupt right roll to nearly a 90-degree bank angle. It then turned to a northerly heading, and, as it turned, descended in a wings vertical attitude into terrain near the runway end and disappeared from view. Two of the witnesses, and a third person who did not witness the accident, reported to the deputy that they had seen the pilot perform the steep right turn departure many times before. Two of the witnesses reported that, during the touch-and-go landing and subsequent climb, the engine sounded different from the aircraft engines they were accustomed to. They assumed this was because the aircraft had an automobile (Volkswagen) engine. One witness reported that the engine was operating smoothly the entire flight until impact; the second reported the engine was operating smoothly during the touch-and-go but did not recall the engine sound during the descent to impact; and the third witness reported that the engine "sputtered" during the climb and descent to impact. The deputy reported there was fuel spilling from the aircraft after the accident, and the aircraft appeared to have impacted on a northerly heading, in a steep nose down attitude causing severe damage to the front of the aircraft and less to the empennage. In a telephone conversation with the Safety Board investigator, the third witness said the aircraft made an abrupt right turn with the wings banked nearly vertical. This witness was not a pilot; however, the steep right turn was something that he had seen this pilot do on previous occasions. It was while the aircraft was in the steep right-hand turn about 150 feet agl that he heard the engine sputter, cough, and the power decrease. He said the aircraft descended toward the ground in the steep bank until he lost sight of it about 30 feet agl. He thinks that the pilot was trying to level the wings when it disappeared from view. The FAA inspector reported that the aircraft's flight controls were continuous at the accident site and there was a strong fuel smell. No heavy aircraft were reported to have preceded the aircraft on the departure runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N71KN](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N71KN-2017-07-12), registration cancelled 2017-07-12, S/N 4371, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NYE KR-2 - Registry model: [Nye Kenneth G KR-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/nye-kenneth-g-kr-2) (registry code 05648ZJ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Revmaster 2100](https://openairdocs.org/engine/revmaster-2100) (registry code 52550, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 4371 - Airframe hours: 416 - Engines: Revmaster 2100 reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William D. Shaw, Jr. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 1999, 151 hours before - Airport: O68, Mariposa-Yosemite, runway 26, 3,310 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 322 total, 95 in this make and model, 74 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 6 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MCE, 26 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 19990914038509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990914038509A), Sep 14, 1999: Amtr KR2, Mariposa, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Following a local area flight the amateur-built airplane returned to the departure airport and entered the traffic pattern. Following a touch-and-go landing,… 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.