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NTSB Report
June 27, 1987 · Rand KR-2 · N75JL
Watsonville, CA
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 27, 1987
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Watsonville, CA
Aircraft
Rand KR-2
Tail Number
N75JL
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX87DVM04
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.
Full Narrative
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.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:55 PDT
Nearest AirportWatsonville (0nm N)
Runway19
Runway Length4500 ft
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftRand KR-2
Tail NumberN75JL
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsVolkswagen · 2100 · Reciprocating · 65
Seats2
People & Injuries
Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 41 · Third Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point70 F / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO