# NTSB FTW99LA068: Waco YMF-5, N19Y, Edmond, OK, January 21, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 21, 1999, 16:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Edmond, OK - Location: 35.6528° N, 97.4781° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Edmond, OK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6528&lon=-97.4781&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 18, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45647 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW99LA068 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45647/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA068 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point due to excessive airspeed and his failure to abort the landing. Factors were the pilot's excessive braking and the short, grass runway. ## 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 - airspeed(vref) - exceeded, pilot in command (cause) - aborted landing - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll - brakes(normal) - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - short runway/landing area (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - grass (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he landed fast and the tail-wheel equipped airplane started to float. When the pilot applied brake pressure the airplane started to skid. The pilot then released the brake pressure; however, he thought he was getting too close to the end of the 2,400 foot long grass strip, so he applied 'heavy' braking. Subsequently, the vintage airplane nosed over. ## Factual narrative On January 21, 1999, approximately 1630 central standard time, a Waco YMF-5 tail-wheel equipped airplane, N19Y, was substantially damaged when it nosed over on landing at a private grass air strip near Edmond, Oklahoma. The non-instrument rated private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was registered to a private individual. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight which originated at 1600 from the Guthrie Municipal Airport near Guthrie, Oklahoma. During a telephone interview conducted by the investigator-in-charge, the pilot stated that he was repositioning the vintage biplane to the owner's private grass air strip. The pilot made two prior approaches to the landing strip to "get a feel for the winds and how to approach over some power lines." On the third attempt the pilot touched down "fast and started to float." The pilot started to "get on the brakes, and the airplane started to skid." The pilot then released the brake pressure; however, he thought that he was getting too close to the end of the 2,400 foot long runway so he applied "heavy braking" and subsequently nosed over. The 933 hour pilot added that at the time of the accident, he had accumulated 47 hours in the accident airplane. The nearest weather observation facility is the Will Rogers World Airport near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, which is 19 miles south of Edmond, Oklahoma. At 1656 the wind was reported to be from 190 degrees at 6 knots. The pilot stated that the condition of the grass air strip at the time of the accident was dry. Examination of the airplane by a FAA inspector revealed that the empenage, engine mounts, and propeller were bent and the top wing spar was broken. The FAA inspector stated that he could find no anomalies with the vintage airplane. The pilot, who is also a certified mechanic, stated that there were no mechanical problems with the brakes. ## Aircraft - Registration: N19Y (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Waco YMF-5 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5015 - Airframe hours: 557 - Engines: Jacobs R-755-B2M 275 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Mitchell L. Madison - Registered owner: Spirit Wing Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 17, 1998, 23 hours before - Departed: GOK, GUTHRIE, OK - Destination: NONE, OK - Airport: NONE, Private ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: rear; flight hours: 933 total, 47 in this make and model, 805 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: OKC, 19 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 19990121009059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990121009059A), Jan 21, 1999: Waco YMF, Edmond, OK, Substantial damage. (.19)On janruary 21, 1999, approximately 1630 central standard time, a Waco Ymf tail-wheel equipped airplane, N19Y, was substantially damaged when it nosed… 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.