# NTSB CEN16LA196: Waco Classic YMF, N56ED, West Des Moines, IA, May 19, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 19, 2016, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: West Des Moines, IA - Coordinates: 41.526111, -93.741111 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5261&lon=-93.7411&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 6, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - Des Moines FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 93247 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA196 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93247/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93247 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA196 ## Probable cause The pilot's mismanagement of the airplane's fuel supply, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Waco Classic YMF WACO F5C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=9600426), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Waco Classic YMF WACO F5C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=9600426), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Waco Classic YMF WACO F5C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=9600426), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Waco Classic YMF WACO F5C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=9600426), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis While approaching the airport for landing at the conclusion of a local flight, the airplane's engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot selected a field as a forced landing site, but noted a "ravine" in the middle of the field. Although the pilot attempted to "bounce" the airplane over the ravine during the landing, the airplane impacted the ravine wall and was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane, and that the loss of engine power was due to fuel starvation, because he forgot to open the left fuel tank shut-off valve. ## Factual narrative On May 19, 2016, about 1830 central daylight time, a Waco YMF airplane, N56ED, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near West Des Moines, Iowa. The pilot received serious injuries and the passenger received minor injuries. The airplane sustained damage to the firewall, lower forward fuselage, landing gear, and both lower wings. The aircraft was registered to Oakwood Group, LLC and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not on a flight plan. The local flight originated from the Des Moines International Airport, Des Moines, Iowa, about 1810. The pilot reported that when returning from a local flight the airplane's engine lost all power about 2-3 miles from the airport. The pilot executed a forced landing to a grass field; however, the field had a "ravine" running through it and he attempted to bounce the airplane over the ravine during the landing. The airplane did not clear the ravine and struck the ravine wall. The pilot reported that the loss of engine power was due to fuel starvation because he forgot to open the left fuel tank shut off valve. He reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N56ED](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N56ED), registered now, S/N F5C082, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WACO CLASSIC AIRCRAFT CORP YMF (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Waco Classic YMF WACO F5C](https://openairdocs.org/model/waco-classic-ymf-waco-f5c) (registry code 9600426) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jacobs R-755A2M](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jacobs-r-755a2m) (registry code 35020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: F5C082 - Year built: 1998 - Engines: JACOBS R755B SERIES 275 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2016 - Departed: DSM, Des Moines, IA - Destination: DSM, Des Moines, IA - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: serious; commercial, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: rear; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 3,658 total, 256 in this make and model, 3,468 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: DSM ## 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 20160519006689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160519006689A), May 19, 2016: Waco WACO-YMF, West Des Moines, IA, Substantial damage. Airman departed the dsm airport for pleasure flight. Experienced loss of power while in flight approximately 3 miles west of the airport. He attempted an… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 8, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93247. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442930&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.