# NTSB LAX05CA052: Classic Waco YMF, N95JD, Santa Barbara, CA, December 13, 2004

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: December 13, 2004, 13:28 local (21:28 UTC)
- Place: Santa Barbara, CA
- Coordinates: 34.426109, -119.840278
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4261&lon=-119.8403&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 24, 2005
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 60721
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX05CA052
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60721/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05CA052

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and failure to maintain directional control during landing rollout, which resulted in a ground loop.

## 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
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - crosswind
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - runway

## Analysis

During landing rollout, the pilot lost directional control of his conventional gear airplane, and it ground looped.  The pilot was aware that upon landing on runway 25 the local wind was variable at 6 knots.  The pilot's touchdown was normal, but during rollout he lost directional control when a crosswind gust was encountered.

## Factual narrative

On December 13, 2004, about 1328 Pacific standard time, a Classic Aircraft Corporation, Waco YMF, N95JD, ground looped during landing rollout at the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport, Santa Barbara, California.  The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot, and it was substantially damaged.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed during the personal flight, and no flight plan was filed.  The commercial certificated pilot was not injured.  The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from San Carlos, California, about 1030.

The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that he was aware the local wind was from 220 degrees, at 7 knots, when he landed on runway 25.  The pilot indicated his touchdown was normal, but during rollout he lost directional control when the wind changed its direction and/or a wind gust was encountered.  The pilot stated that his total experience flying conventional gear airplanes was about 27.9 hours.

At 1253, the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport reported that the surface wind was from 190 degrees, at 4 knots.  At 1353, the reported wind direction was variable, and its speed was 6 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N95JD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N95JD), registered now, S/N F5C-058, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Classic Aircraft Corp. Waco YMF
- Registry model: [Classic WACO YMF](https://openairdocs.org/model/classic-waco-ymf) (registry code 2240101) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Jacobs R755B series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jacobs-r755b-series) (registry code 35007, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: F5C-058
- Engines: Jacobs R755 B2M reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Joseph J. Ryan
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: SQL, San Carlos, CA
- Destination: SBA, Santa Barbara, CA
- Airport: SBA, Santa Barbara Municipal, runway 25, 6,052 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 1,339 total, 28 in this make and model, 28 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 20041213035069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041213035069A), Dec 13, 2004: Amtr WACOYMF, Santa Barbara, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) N95JD was a classic aircraft corp/waco ymf s/n F5C-058. It is a biplae and with tricyclic fixed landing gear. The commercial pilot [privacy data omitted]…

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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