Pierce County - Thun Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Puyallup, Washington 98374
Monday, February 24, 2003 15:16 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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).

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/24/2003
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1516
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Puyallup
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98374
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 470704N
Event Location Longitude 1221609W
Event Location Airport Pierce County - Thun Field
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 1S0
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 20
Airport Elevation 538
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1455 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 250
Weather Observation Facility ID TCM
Elevation of weather observation facility 323
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 9
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.07
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14361
NTSB Notification Source FAA SEA ROC
NTSB Notification Date Feb 24 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1541
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Nov 25 2003 11:36AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA SEA ROC

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N23KS
NTSB Number SEA03FA041
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Grubert
Aircraft Model KIS TRI-R TR-1
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 23
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Grubert, David W.
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Tacoma
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98444
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 1S0
Departure City Puyallup
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1514
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 1S0
Destination City Puyallup
Destination State WA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Approach - VFR pattern - downwind
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jul 31 2003 2:19PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 34
Runway Length 3650
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --