# NTSB CEN11CA400: Waco Classic YMF-F5C, N113KJ, Charleston, IL, June 18, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 18, 2011, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Charleston, IL - Coordinates: 39.490276, -88.176391 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4903&lon=-88.1764&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 4, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-SPI-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 80815 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA400 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80815/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80815 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA400 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain to take off after making a precautionary landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot performed a precautionary landing to a field due to a rough running engine. After the landing, he decided that the airplane was airworthy, and attempted to take off from a nearby gravel road. During the takeoff roll, the airplane's left wing dragged in the high grass that bordered both sides of the road which caused the airplane to cartwheel approximately 180 degrees. The landing gear span on the airplane was approximately 8 feet, the road was approximately 15 feet wide, and the wingspan was about 25 feet. ## Factual narrative The pilot elected to perform a precautionary landing in a field due to a rough running engine. He inspected the engine and determined that he could fly the airplane back to the airport. The airplane was moved to a nearby gravel road for takeoff. During the takeoff, the left wing contacted high grass and rising terrain which bordered both sides of the road. The airplane's left wing began to drag and then the airplane cartwheeled approximately 180 degrees causing substantial damage to the airplane's right upper and lower wings and right elevator. The landing gear span on the airplane was approximately 8 feet, the road was approximately 15 feet wide, and the wingspan was about 25 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: N113KJ (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: WACO CLASSIC AIRCRAFT YMF-F5C - Category: Airplane - Serial number: F5C113 - Engines: JACOBS R-755B2M 275 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Central Illinois Air Corp - Registered owner: Central Illinois Air Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic - Departed: MTO, Mattoon, IL - Destination: MTO, Mattoon, IL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 12, 2010; seat: rear; flight hours: 4,800 total, 50 in this make and model, 4,630 as pilot in command, 125 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg - Observed at: MTO, 10 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 20110618010749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110618010749A), Jun 18, 2011: Waco Classic Aircraft YMF-F5C, Charleston, IL, Substantial damage. While departing from a county roadway, the lower wing contacted a berm which caused the aircraft to cartwheel, destroying the right wings, prop and landing… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 6, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80815. 563 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 563 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350752&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.