# NTSB FTW00LA026: Waco KNF, N698N, Midway, AR, November 5, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 5, 1999, 17:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Midway, AR - Coordinates: 36.389053, -92.479995 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3891&lon=-92.4800&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 30, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47732 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW00LA026 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47732/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA026 ## Probable cause The inability of the pilot to maintain control of the airplane as a result of a downdraft. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - weather condition - downdraft (cause) - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The airplane encountered a downdraft while on final approach and contacted trees. According to the pilot, the airplane was at 25 feet agl, crossing a road and trees, at the approach end of runway 18, when he 'felt a rapid sink of the aircraft.' The pilot 'applied full throttle and attempted to lower the nose of the aircraft, but within what seemed like a couple of seconds' the airplane's left wing contacted trees. Subsequently, the airplane impacted the ground and came to rest upright. The pilot stated that he attributed the loss of altitude to a 'downdraft.' Another pilot, who flew the same approach 5 minutes prior to the accident airplane, reported that his aircraft experienced a 20 mph loss of airspeed while on final approach. That pilot added that he attributed the loss of airspeed to a 'downdraft.' ## Factual narrative On November 5, 1999, at 1745 central standard time, a Waco KNF biplane, N698N, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees and terrain during the final approach to the Promise Land Airpark Airport, Midway, Arkansas. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. The commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight originated from the Promise Land Airpark Airport at 1730. According to the pilot, he maneuvered the airplane onto the final approach leg for runway 18, a 2,000 foot turf airstrip. He stated that the airplane was at 25 feet agl and overflying a road and trees, located north of the approach end of the runway, when he "felt a rapid sink of the aircraft." The pilot "applied full throttle and attempted to lower the nose of the aircraft, but within what seemed like a couple of seconds" the airplane's left wing contacted a tree. Subsequently, the airplane contacted the ground and came to rest upright. The pilot stated that he attributed the loss of altitude to "wind shear or [a] downdraft." A pilot, who executed an approach and full stop landing on runway 18 approximately 5 minutes prior to the accident airplane, reported that his airplane's airspeed "dropped suddenly from 60mph to 40mph," while crossing trees on final approach. He added that he attributed the loss of airspeed to "an unexpected tailwind or downdraft." The FAA inspector, who examined the airplane at the site, reported that the front wing spars for the upper and lower left wings were structurally damaged. The left elevator was bent, the left main landing gear assembly separated from the airframe, and the engine separated from the airframe. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N698N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N698N), registered now, S/N 3246, built 1930 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Waco KNF - Registry model: [Waco KNF](https://openairdocs.org/model/waco-knf) (registry code 9600418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Kinner K5 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/kinner-k5-series) (registry code 37503, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3246 - Airframe hours: 1237 - Engines: Kinner K-5 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Galen W. Hutcheson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 2, 1999, 132 hours before - Departed: NONE - Airport: NONE, Promise Land Airstrip, runway 18, 2,000 × 200 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 2,000 total, 188 in this make and model, 1,923 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 170° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BPK ## 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 19991105046329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991105046329A), Nov 5, 1999: Waco KNF, Midway, AR, No damage. (-23) On nov. 5, 1999, at approximately 1745 CST, a Waco, N698N, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees during the final approach to the promise land… 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.