# NTSB GAA15CA001: Waco UPF 7, N32063, Rio Vista, CA, March 6, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 6, 2015, 12:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Rio Vista, CA - Coordinates: 38.194168, -121.695831 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1942&lon=-121.6958&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 13, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 90826 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA001 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90826/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90826 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA001 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Waco UPF-7, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=9601302), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Waco UPF-7, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=9601302), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Waco UPF-7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=9601302), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Waco UPF-7, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=9601302), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Waco UPF-7, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=9601302), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that the airplane touched down uneventfully. During the landing roll a gust of wind picked up the right wing, the pilot applied right aileron and right rudder correction to regain control, but was unable to do so. The pilot lost directional control and advanced the throttle to the full position in an attempt to execute a go-around, subsequently the left wing came in contact with the ground and ground looped, which resulted in substantial damage to both of the left wings and left lift struts. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that the airplane touched down uneventfully. During the landing roll a gust of wind picked up the right wing, the pilot applied right aileron and right rudder correction to regain control, but was unable to do so. The pilot lost directional control and advanced the throttle to the full position in an attempt to execute a go-around, subsequently the left wing came in contact with the ground and ground looped, which resulted in substantial damage to both of the left wings and left lift struts. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N32063](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N32063), registered now, S/N 5695 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WACO UPF 7 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Waco UPF-7](https://openairdocs.org/model/waco-upf-7) (registry code 9601302) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental R670-SERIES series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-r670-series-series) (registry code 17016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5695 - Year built: 1941 - Airframe hours: 1745 - Engines: CONT MOTOR R670-SERIES 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Bayley Donald T - Registered owner: Bayley Donald T - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 10, 2014 - Departed: STS, Santa Rosa, CA - Destination: O88, Rio Vista, CA - Airport: O88, Rio Vista, runway 25, 4,199 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 28, 2014; seat: rear; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 4,500 total, 50 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: KSUU, 12 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 20150306003129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150306003129A), Mar 6, 2015: Waco UPF-7, Rio Vista, CA, Substantial damage. On March 06, 2015, around 1230 PDT, N32063, a Waco UPF-7 tail-wheeled aircraft, ground looped during landing on runway 25 at Rio Vista municipal airport (O88),… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 27, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90826. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425580&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Additional Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425581&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Additional%20Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of Pilot) (item 3, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425582&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Pilot)-Master.PDF 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.