Cooke KR-2 accident near Watsonville, CA
On November 7, 1995, a Cooke KR-2 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Watsonville, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- November 7, 1995
- Place
- Watsonville, CA
- Aircraft
- Cooke KR-2 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 36.950°N, 121.720°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001207X04875
NTSB summary
On November 7, 1995, at 1454 hours Pacific standard time, a home-built Cooke KR-2, N57CC, experienced a loss of engine power during initial climb from the Watsonville Municipal Airport, Watsonville, California. Witnesses observed the airplane reverse course, turn toward the airport, and descend rapidly until colliding with terrain and an unoccupied structure. The aircraft was destroyed by a postimpact fire, and the pilot received fatal injuries. The flight originated in Watsonville at 1453 on the day of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. According to people who knew the pilot, the accident occurred during the aircraft's maiden test flight. A witness stated that she looked up as she heard the aircraft approaching her location. She thought the aircraft was having engine problems so she continued watching as the aircraft entered a steep right turn. As the aircraft leveled off, she heard the engine begin to make popping sounds. She then saw that the aircraft's wings were waiving up and down as the aircraft entered a second steep right turn. During this turn, the aircraft rapidly lost altitude and it collided with the ground. After impact the aircraft slid through a fence, nosed over onto its back, and then slid into her neighbor's barn. About 1 second later the barn and aircraft burst into flames. A second witness, who is a pilot, was standing on the airport ramp prior to the aircraft's takeoff. He said that he observed the pilot make a series of high speed taxi runs prior to departure. As the aircraft reached abou
Probable cause
partial loss of engine power for an undetermined reason, and failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed, while maneuvering for an emergency landing, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and collision with the terrain.
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Browse: California
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
