# NTSB CEN15LA295: Waco UPF 7, N29943, Montrose, CO, June 3, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 3, 2015, 07:15 local (13:15 UTC) - Place: Montrose, CO - Coordinates: 38.299888, -107.900581 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2999&lon=-107.9006&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report September 14, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 91503 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15LA295 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91503/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91503 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA295 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain suitable altitude while flying over high mountainous terrain in downdraft conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Waco UPF-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?model=9601302), [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Waco UPF-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=9601302), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Terrain: mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Waco UPF-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md?model=9601302), [All aircraft, 329 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md) - [Terrain: high elevation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021025): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Waco UPF-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021025/cases.md?model=9601302), [All aircraft, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021025/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Waco UPF-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000/cases.md?model=9601302), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Waco UPF-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=9601302), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot was conducting a cross-country flight in the single-engine vintage airplane. The flight originated from an airport with an elevation of 5,758 ft mean sea level (msl). The pilot reported that the surface wind at the airport was 15 knots at takeoff. He added that the airplane reached an altitude of 8,500 ft msl, which he thought was sufficient to fly over the high, mountainous terrain. However, as the airplane neared higher terrain, it encountered a downdraft. The airplane's climb rate was not sufficient to overcome the effects of the downdraft, and the valley was too narrow to complete a turn to lower ground; the airplane subsequently impacted terrain. The pilot reported that it would have been safer if he had used better judgment and delayed approaching the higher terrain until he had climbed the airplane to more than 1,000 ft above the ground elevation. Additionally, given the 15-knot surface wind reported at the departure airport, it is likely that the wind aloft at 9,000 ft near the mountain pass where the accident occurred was much stronger. The pilot should have attained an altitude of 2,000 ft or more to ensure that the airplane had sufficient altitude to clear the pass's highest terrain. ## Factual narrative On June 3, 2015, about 0700 mountain daylight time, a 1940 year model Waco UPF-7 airplane, N29943, registered to a private LLC, sustained substantial damage following a forced landing resulting from a downdraft while maneuvering over mountainous terrain near Cerro Summit, Colorado. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Federal Code of Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from the Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ) at 0640 and was en route to its intended destination to Kelly Air Park (CO15), Elbert, Colorado, when the accident occurred. The pilot reported that the surface winds at MTJ (elevation 5,758 feet MSL) were from 140 degrees at 15 knots at the time of takeoff. He circled south of MTJ to gain altitude and elected to depart towards North Pass via Cerro Summit (approx. 8,100 feet MSL). About 5 miles west of Cerro Summit, the airplane had reached about 8,400 feet MSL and the pilot thought that his altitude was sufficient to cross the pass and continued to climb while flying to North Pass. About 2 miles from the pass, a strong downdraft was encountered. The airplane's rate of climb was not sufficient to overcome the downdraft and there was insufficient width of the valley just west of Cerro Summit to complete a turn to lower ground. The pilot stated that he believed that the left wing stalled and the airplane descended about 50 feet before striking the terrain. The pilot stated that during the impact, the engine and engine mount separated and the firewall and front section of the cockpit crushed. Both wings were destroyed and the rear cockpit and empennage remained intact. The Waco UPF-7 has a front/rear pilot seat configuration. The pilot was seated in the rear seat. In NTSB Form 6120, the pilot offered a safety recommendation that it would have been better judgment to have delayed approaching the high terrain of Cerro Summit until he had climbed more than 1,000 feet above the elevation of the pass. Additionally, with surface winds reported at his departure airport (MTJ) were from 140 degrees at 15 knots. Winds aloft at 9,000 feet in the vicinity of the mountain pass were the accident occurred were likely much stronger. Therefore, maintaining an altitude of 2,000 feet or more above the pass's highest terrain would have effected a safer crossing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N29943](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N29943-2018-03-13), registration cancelled 2018-03-13, S/N 5441 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WACO UPF 7 (NO SERIES) - 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: 5441 - Year built: 1940 - Engines: CONT MOTOR W670 SERIES 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Upf-7 LLC - Registered owner: Upf-7 LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 6, 2015, 4 hours before - Departed: MTJ, Montrose, CO - Destination: CO15, Elbert, CO - Equipment: Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: serious; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 5,467 total, 600 in this make and model, 5,467 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 15 knots, gusting 10 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: MTJ, 15 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 20150603008959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150603008959A), Jun 3, 2015: Waco UPF-7, Montrose, CO, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed Montrose airport and circled the valley to gain altitude before turning east. Approximately 15 miles east of Montrose, Colorado the aircraft… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 15, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91503. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442361&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.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.