# NTSB CHI89LA076: Waco YMF, N455RT, Lansing, MI, April 23, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 23, 1989, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Lansing, MI
- Coordinates: 42.789924, -84.590797 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7899&lon=-84.5908&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 29, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14342
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI89LA076
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14342/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI89LA076

## Probable cause

PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL, AND HIS EXCESSIVE BRAKE APPLICATION AS THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY, WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRCRAFT NOSING OVER. THE PILOT'S INEXPERIENCE IN TAILDRAGGER AIRCRAFT, AND THE INADEQUATE SUPERVISION ON THE PART OF THE CHECK PILOT WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - aircraft handling - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command
  - supervision - inadequate, check pilot (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - grass
  - brakes(normal) - excessive, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

WHILE ON AN AIRCRAFT FAMILIARIZATION FLIGHT, DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT AND DEPART THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. AS THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY, THE PILOT APPLIED BOTH BRAKES 'HARD', AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER IN THE GRASS. THE CHECK PILOT IN THE FRONT SEAT HAD NO ACCESS TO BRAKE PEDALS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N455RT (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: WACO YMF
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: F5-018
- Airframe hours: 4
- Engines: JACOBS 755-B 275 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Tarrson, Ronald
- Registered owner: Ret Butler Comm. Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 1989, 4 hours before
- Departed: 2D8, EAST LANSING, MI
- Destination: LAN, LANSING, MI
- Airport: LAN, Lansing-Capital City, runway 10R, 7,251 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,444 total, 4 in this make and model, 1,285 as pilot in command, 61 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LAN

## 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 19890423009629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890423009629A), Apr 23, 1989: Waco YMF, Lansing, MI, Substantial damage. Veered to side of runway. Check pilot in front seat had no brakes. Pilot in rear seat hit brakes hard. Nosed over.

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.