# NTSB CHI94LA030: Waco YMF-5, N369DP, Valparaiso, IN, November 2, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 2, 1993, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Valparaiso, IN - Location: 41.4540° N, 87.0071° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at PORTER COUNTY RGNL (VPZ), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4540&lon=-87.0071&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9426 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA030 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9426/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA030 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS WHILE LANDING IN A GUSTY CROSSWIND. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT ARE THE GUSTY CROSSWIND AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE AIRPLANE. ## 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 - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS LANDING IN A GUSTY CROSSWIND WHEN A GUST OF WIND LIFTED THE LEFT WING. HE SAID HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY GROUND LOOPED AND NOSED OVER. THE PILOT REPORTED A TOTAL OF 5.8 HOURS OF FLIGHT EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE AIRPLANE AT THE TIME THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. ## Factual narrative On November 2, 1993, about 1400 eastern standard time, a Waco YMF-5 airplane, N369DP, ground looped and came to rest inverted during landing at Valparaiso, Indiana. The private pilot reported no injury. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the field. The ferry flight originated in Lansing, Michigan about 1200 without a flight plan and operated under 14 CFR 91. The pilot states that prior to entering the traffic pattern to land, he overflew the airport to check the wind sock for wind direction and velocity. He was not able to receive advisories from the airport unicom. The pilot approximated the direction of the wind to be from 190 degrees and the velocity 15 to 20 knots. He elected to land on runway 27. During the landing roll, the pilot states he experienced a strong gust which exceeded the control authority of the airplane. The left wing rose, the nose swung left, and the right lower wing tip struck the runway. The airplane then ground looped onto its back. The pilot reported 5.8 hours flight experience in this type airplane at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N369DP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N369DP-1998-06-12), registration cancelled 1998-06-12, S/N F5007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WACO YMF-5 - Registry model: [Waco YMF](https://openairdocs.org/model/waco-ymf) (registry code 9600411) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: F5-007 - Airframe hours: 330 - Engines: JACOBS R755B2M1 245 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Ferry, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gary L. Petersen - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Special, Provisional (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 1993, 53 hours before - Departed: LAN, LANSING, MI - Destination: CEK, CRETE, NE - Airport: VPZ, Porter County Airport, runway 27, 6,000 × 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: 937 total, 6 in this make and model, 842 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 15 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point -0 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: VPZ ## 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 19931102042079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931102042079A), Nov 2, 1993: Waco YMF, Valparaiso, IN, Substantial damage. Lost direction control landing tailwheel type. Ground looped and flipped over. Minimum flying time in type. ## Other investigations on N369DP (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX98LA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA033), Nov 8, 1997: Waco YMF-5 (N369DP), Sedona, AZ, destroyed. Probable cause: The failure and separation of the propeller for undetermined reasons. 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.