# NTSB ANC95LA143: Waco UPF-7, N134Q, Anchorage, AK, August 18, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 17, 1995, 22:05 local (Aug 18, 1995, 06:05 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.160614, -149.989425 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1606&lon=-149.9894&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor - Status: Completed, report March 6, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2721 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95LA143 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2721/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA143 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION, WHICH RESULTED IN AN UNLOCKED ENGINE PRIMER AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - fuel system,primer system - unlocked (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - soft - terrain condition - high vegetation - Nose down, emergency landing ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS CONCLUDING A SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT WITH TWO PASSENGERS IN AN OPEN COCKPIT BIPLANE. WHILE IN A DOWNWIND LANDING PATTERN AT MIDFIELD AND 700 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY QUIT. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO LAND ON THE RUNWAY AND PERFORMED AN EMERGENCY LANDING INTO AN OPEN FIELD ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY. DURING THE LANDING, THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED SOFT MUSKEG, BRUSH AND SMALL TREES. IT CAME TO REST NOSE DOWN IN A NEAR VERTICAL POSITION. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. THE ENGINE PRIMER WAS FOUND IN THE UNLOCKED POSITION. ## Factual narrative On August 17, 1995, about 2205 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Waco UPF-7, N134Q, crashed during a forced landing, adjacent to the Lake Hood strip, Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area sightseeing flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The certificated airline transport pilot and one passenger received minor injuries. A second passenger received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Lake Hood strip about 2150. The pilot reported that he was in a right downwind landing pattern for runway 31 at midfield and 700 feet above the ground when the engine suddenly quit. He turned toward the airstrip but was unable to glide to the runway. The pilot selected an emergency landing area that consisted of soft muskeg, brush, and small spruce trees. The airplane came to rest nose down, standing in a near vertical position. The airplane received damage to the landing gear and leading edges of the wings. Examination of the airplane at the accident site and again when the airplane was recovered revealed that fuel was present to the carburetor. Fuel drained from the fuel strainer was free of contaminants. The engine exhibited gear and valve train continuity. Thumb compression was present at each cylinder. Spark was produced at each of the front spark plug leads upon hand rotation of the engine. The spark plugs exhibited a blackened appearance. The engine primer was unlocked. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N134Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N134Q), registered now, S/N 5484, built 1940 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WACO UPF-7 - Registry model: [Waco UPF-7](https://openairdocs.org/model/waco-upf-7) (registry code 9601302) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental W670 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-w670-series) (registry code 17018, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5484 - Airframe hours: 2772 - Engines: CONTINENTAL W-670 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Operator: Classic Air Ventures - Registered owner: Philip J. Ulrich - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 23, 1995, 98 hours before - Departed: Z41 - Airport: Z41, Lake Hood Strip, runway 31, 2,200 × 70 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 20,000 total, 15,000 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 150° at 3 knots - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ANC, 1 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19950817028609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950817028609A), Aug 17, 1995: Waco UPF7, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Engine quit on downwind. Unable make airport. Landed tundra. Nosed up. Found engine primer unlocked. Rich mixture. ## Other investigations on N134Q (2) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB ERA17LA253](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA253), Jul 3, 2017: Waco UPF 7 (N134Q), Brunswick, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the right main landing gear strut brace for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence. - [NTSB SEA94LA110](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA110), Apr 27, 1994: Waco UPF-7 (N134Q), Lander, WY, substantial damage. Probable cause: POOR IN-FLIGHT PLANNING DECISION. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AND INADVERTENT VFR INTO IMC. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.