# NTSB CHI97LA211: Waco UPF-7, N30136, Springfield, IL, July 12, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 12, 1997, 18:15 local (23:15 UTC) - Place: Springfield, IL - Location: 39.8537° N, 89.6922° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from ABRAHAM LINCOLN CAPITAL (SPI), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8537&lon=-89.6922&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 15, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10630 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI97LA211 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10630/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA211 ## Probable cause failure of the pilot to maintain safe altitude/clearance from the terrain. Factors relating to this accident were: the hazy weather condition, the resultant difficulty in keeping the other airplane in sight, and the pilot's diverted attention, while looking for the other airplane during the airshow routine. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - aerobatics - initiated, pilot in command - weather condition - haze/smoke (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ground - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - visual/aural detection, pilot in command (contributing factor) - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot said that he was performing an airshow routine with another airplane. He had just come across the top of a '1/2 cuban eight' maneuver, and visually located the other airplane, as he was maneuvering for an opposing pass. He stated, 'Descending back to show center, I lost sight of the other airplane due to my top wing being in my line of sight.' The pilot visually searched for the other airplane. He said, 'Due to the time of day, haze and color of the other airplane, I didn't pick him up. At one instant, something caught my eye. I glanced up, and the next instant, touched down on a slight descent at about 160 miles per hour. The long rigid [landing] gear collapsed easily. I pulled the airplane back into the air, made a slight right turn to line up on runway 13 and landed.' Examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative On July 12, 1997, at 1815 central daylight time (cdt), a Waco UPF-7, N30136, operated by commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage when while performing an airshow routine, the airplane impacted the terrain. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The business flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was on file. The pilot reported no injuries. The local flight originated at Springfield, Illinois, at 1810 cdt. In his written statement, the pilot said that he was performing an airshow routine with another airplane. The pilot had just come across the top of a "1/2 cuban eight" maneuver, and visually located the other airplane, as he was setting up for an opposing pass. "Descending back to show center, I lost sight of the other airplane due to my top wing being in my line of sight." The pilot visually searched for the other airplane. "Due to the time of day, haze and color of the other airplane, I didn't pick him up. At one instant, something caught my eye. I glanced up, and the next instant, touched down on a slight descent at about 160 miles per hour. The long rigid [landing] gear collapsed easily. I pulled the airplane back into the air, made a slight right turn to line up on runway 13 and landed." The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who examined the wreckage at the scene found the airplane resting on the right edge of runway 13 at Springfield Capital Airport, Springfield, Illinois approximately 4,600 feet down from the threshold. The right bottom wing's rear spar was bent up and aft. The airplane's right aileron was bent upward. The main landing gear were bent upward into the bottom of the fuselage. The cowling and underside of the airplane's fuselage were crushed upward. Both propeller blades were missing approximately 1/2-inch of the blade tips. The propeller showed torsional bending and chordwise scratches. Flight control continuity was confirmed. No anomalies were found with the engine, engine controls or other airplane systems. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N30136](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N30136), registered now, S/N 5533, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Waco UPF-7 - Registry model: [Waco UPF-7](https://openairdocs.org/model/waco-upf-7) (registry code 9601302) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5533 - Airframe hours: 3889 - Engines: P&W R-985-14B 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: Kyle A. Franklin - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 4, 1997, 32 hours before - Departed: SPI - Airport: SPI, Springfield Capital, runway 13, 7,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 17,000 total, 6,000 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 9 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SPI, 1 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 19970712018149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970712018149A), Jul 12, 1997: Waco UPF7, Springfield, IL, Substantial damage. Aircraft was performing airshow routine, hit the ground while completing a half cuban eight maneuver. (.4)the pilot said that he was performing an airshow… ## Other investigations on N30136 (2) 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 CEN11FA228](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11FA228), Mar 12, 2011: Waco UPF-7 (N30136), Brownsville, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. - [NTSB FTW83LA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83LA002), Oct 3, 1982: Waco UPF-7 (N30136), Albuquerque, NM, substantial damage 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.