# NTSB CEN22LA410: Waco Classic 2T-1A-2, N21GL, Coldwater, MI, September 2, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 2, 2022, 14:50 local (18:50 UTC) - Place: Coldwater, MI - Coordinates: 41.933235, -85.051889 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9332&lon=-85.0519&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 105881 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA410 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105881/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105881 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA410 ## Probable cause The pilot receiving instruction’s improper flare during landing and the flight instructor’s inadequate remedial action, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle-of-attach and experiencing an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Waco Classic 2T-1A-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=9600427), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Waco Classic 2T-1A-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=9600427), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Waco Classic 2T-1A-2, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=9600427), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor, who was seated in the front seat, and pilot receiving instruction practiced three landings on the hard surface runway in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. The flight instructor reported that he then asked the pilot to conduct a 3-point landing on the grass adjacent to the runway. The instructor reported that the pilot got high and slow on short final and that he told the pilot to lower the nose and add power. He stated, “[pilot] was slow to respond [and] pulled the nose up (stick fully aft) for the landing.” The instructor stated he was too late to add power, and the airplane stalled about 5 to 8 ft above the grass. The main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. The instructor reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot receiving instruction reported that while over the grass parallel to the runway threshold, he began to flare the airplane. The instructor stated the flare was initiated too high but to continue the landing. The airplane leveled out, and the instructor stated to “keep pulling.” The pilot reported the instructor began to manipulate the controls with the pilot, and the instructor pulled back on the control stick. The airplane entered an extreme nose-high attitude, stalled, and impacted the terrain. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N21GL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N21GL), registered now, S/N 1200, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WACO CLASSIC AIRCRAFT CORP 2T-1A-2 - Registry model: [Waco Classic 2T-1A-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/waco-classic-2t-1a-2) (registry code 9600427) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-360-B1G6](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-360-b1g6) (registry code 41879, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1200 - Year built: 2013 - Engines: Lycoming AEIO-360-B1G6 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: BTL, Battle Creek, MI - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: OEB, Branch County Meml, runway 07, 4,000 × 200 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: minor; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 20,474 total, 190 in this make and model, 14,151 as pilot in command, 48 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: KOEB - METAR: KOEB 021855Z AUTO 17006KT 10SM SCT080 27/19 A3011 RMK AO2 T02720189 ## 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 20220902015179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220902015179A), Sep 2, 2022: Waco Classic Aircraft Corp 2T-1A-2, Coldwater, MI, Substantial damage. On September 02, 2022 at 1445 local time, an experimental Waco corporation great lakes aircraft,[privacy data omitted], registered to an aircraft manufacturer… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 13, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105881. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 flight instructor (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 965 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14541833&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Kemp_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight instructor additional statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 13 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14542365&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Jerry%20Kemp%20FAA%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 pilot receiving instruction (item 3, PDF, 9 pages, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14542044&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Watts_Final_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photograph (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 535 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14542179&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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.