Grubert KIS TRI-R TR-1 accident near Puyallup, WA
On February 24, 2003, a Grubert KIS TRI-R TR-1 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Puyallup, WA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- February 24, 2003
- Place
- Puyallup, WA
- Aircraft
- Grubert KIS TRI-R TR-1 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 47.118°N, 122.269°W
- NTSB ID
- 20030227X00264
Official records · SEA03FA041
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On February 24, 2003, approximately 1516 Pacific standard time, a homebuilt Grubert KIS TRI-R TR-1 experimentally certificated aircraft, N23KS, registered to and being flown by a student pilot, accompanied by a pilot rated passenger, was destroyed during ground impact and a post-crash fire following a loss of control in flight while turning on a right downwind at Thun Field, Puyallup, Washington. Both occupants were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal, was operated under 14CFR91, and had just departed Thun Field's runway 34 several minutes earlier. A number of witnesses reported observing the aircraft/occupants at Thun Field prior to the aircraft's departure on the afternoon of the accident. One witness at the fixed base operator's facility reported seeing the aircraft arrive and drop off a passenger, then take on another passenger. A second witness reported observing the aircraft on the ramp with the owner/builder in the left seat and the passenger in the right. He reported watching the aircraft start up and noted that the engine started and then quit twice before the pilot got it running continuously. He then observed the aircraft taxi out but did not see the departure. Two additional witnesses in a vehicle on the airport reported seeing three men removing seat cushions from the aircraft. As they drove past the aircraft a short time later they observed two people inside the aircraft and observed the aircraft's engine starting and quitting several times. Shortly ther
Probable cause
The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain adequate flying airspeed during the turn from crosswind to downwind resulting in an inadvertent stall/spin and subsequent collision with terrain (ground).
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Browse: Washington
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
