# NTSB DEN03LA151: Waco YMF-5, N455RT, Taos, NM, September 7, 2003

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 7, 2003, 10:15 local (16:15 UTC)
- Place: Taos, NM
- Coordinates: 36.458057, -105.672225
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.4581&lon=-105.6722&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 5, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Albuquerque FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 57937
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA151
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57937/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA151

## Probable cause

the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing roll which resulted in the subsequent ground loop/swerve and impact with the ditch.

## Analysis

According to the pilot, after completing a "wheel landing" on runway 04, the airplane began to "fishtail." As he applied rudder control, the airplane's right wing dipped and the right main landing gear departed the right side of the runway. When he applied go-around power, the airplane departed the right side of the runway, and struck a ditch.

## Factual narrative

On September 7, 2003, at 1015 mountain daylight time, a Waco YMF-5, N455RT, operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during a go-around at Taos Regional Airport (SKX), Taos, New Mexico. The private pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan had been filed for this personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Santa Fe, New Mexico, at approximately 1000.

According to the pilot, after completing a "wheel landing" on runway 04, the airplane began to "fishtail." As he applied rudder control, the airplane's right wing dipped and the right main landing gear departed the right side of the runway. When he applied go-around power, the airplane departed the right side of the runway, and struck a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right main landing gear, right wing, and the firewall.

## 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
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - go-around - initiated, pilot in command
  - ground loop/swerve - encountered, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, go-around (vfr)
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)

## Aircraft

- Registration: N455RT (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Waco YMF-5
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 0018
- Airframe hours: 311
- Engines: Jacobs R755B2W 275 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Ret Butler Communications Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2003, 1 hours before
- Departed: SAF, Santa Fe, NM
- Destination: SKX, Taos, NM
- Airport: SKX, Taos Regional, runway 04, 5,798 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 6, 2002; seat: rear; flight hours: 4,272 total, 311 in this make and model, 4,221 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 90 ft broken
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observed at: KSKX

## 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 20030907025269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030907025269A), Sep 7, 2003: Waco YMF, Taos, NM, Substantial damage. (-23) On September 7, 2003 at 1020 MDT a Waco Ymf (N455RT) registered to ret butler communications group, 3930 n pine grove ave., chicago, IL 60613 and…

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.

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