# NTSB LAX06CA195: Waco Classic YMF 5C, N515TT, Holbrook, AZ, May 30, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 30, 2006, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Holbrook, AZ - Coordinates: 34.940555, -110.138336 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9406&lon=-110.1383&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 3, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 63871 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX06CA195 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63871/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06CA195 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind condition and failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing, 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 - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - crosswind - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis The tail wheel equipped airplane ground looped during landing. The pilot reported that during touchdown, a gust of wind blew the tail to the right, turning the biplane to the left. The pilot failed to regain aircraft control and the right lower wing contacted the pavement. The airplane eventually departed the left side of the runway into sandy soil and nosed down. The pilot reported the wind as variable but predominantly from 120 degrees at 9 knots. ## Factual narrative On May 30, 2006, at 1630 mountain standard time, a Waco Classic Aircraft Corp. YMF 5C airplane, N515TT, ground looped while landing on runway 3 at the Holbrook Municipal Airport (P14) Holbrook, Arizona. The airplane was registered to the private pilot, who operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed for the cross-country flight that originated from Kingman, Arizona, at 1500. According to the pilot's written statement, he had established the tail wheel equipped biplane at 75 knots for the wheel landing. Upon touchdown a gust of wind "blew the tail to the right, initiating a turn to the left." The right lower wing contacted the pavement, and the airplane eventually departed the left side of the runway into sandy soil. The right main landing gear collapsed and the airplane nosed down coming to rest on the propeller, left wing tips, and left main landing gear. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the landing gear, wings, and fuselage. The pilot reported the wind as variable but predominantly from 120 degrees at 9 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N515TT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N515TT), registered now, S/N F5C-086, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Waco Classic Aircraft Corp. YMF 5C - Registry model: [Waco Classic YMF](https://openairdocs.org/model/waco-classic-ymf) (registry code 9600413) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jacobs R755B series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jacobs-r755b-series) (registry code 35007, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: F5C-086 - Airframe hours: 636.5 - Engines: Jacobs R-755-B2M 275 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: George Schreyer - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2005, 39 hours before - Departed: IGM, Kingman, AZ - Destination: P14, Holbrook, AZ - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: P14, Holbrook Municipal, runway 3, 6,698 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2005; seat: rear; flight hours: 2,450 total, 713 in this make and model, 5,152 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## 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 20060530013559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060530013559A), May 30, 2006: Waco YMF, Holbrook, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) On may 30, 2006 at approximately 1630 MST, N515TT, a Waco Ymf biplane, with the pilot [privacy data omitted] performing as pilot-in-command, crashed… 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.