Grubert KIS TRI-R TR-1 N23KS

Summary

On 24 February 2003 at about 23:16 local time, a Grubert KIS TRI-R TR-1 registered N23KS was involved in an accident near Puyallup, Washington, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 February 2003 at 23:16

Classification

Accident

Location

Puyallup, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Pierce County - Thun Field (1S0)

Coordinates

47.1178, -122.2692

Aircraft

Grubert KIS TRI-R TR-1

Registration

N23KS

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Puyallup → Puyallup

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA03FA041

2 people died.

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).

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and pilot rated passenger were observed getting into the homebuilt KIS TRI-R TR-1 experimentally certificated aircraft. The pilot had made three attempts to start the engine with the third being successful and the aircraft taxied out and departed on the 6,500 foot paved runway (34) to the north. The aircraft climbed out, turned right onto a crosswind, momentarily leveled its wings and then entered a second right turn to a downwind. During the second turn, witnesses saw the aircraft depart controlled flight and enter a spin descending to ground impact. A post crash fire consumed the aircraft. Post crash disassembly and examination of the engine revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction. The aircraft had a maximum takeoff weight of 1,500 pounds and an empty weight of 943 pounds, and the combined weight of both occupants was reported as 436 pounds. The total amount of fuel on board was not known, however, a witness observed the aircraft being fueled from containers on the ramp before the departure. Exclusive of fire damage to the aluminum elevator and aileron control push/pull rods, there was no evidence of any control discontinuity.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.