- Date
- July 30, 1996, 08:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place
- Payson, AZ
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N29974Waco UPF7
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 4, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960730020219A
- Case key
- 29525
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the failure of the pilot to maintain directional control on touchdown and the landing ground roll.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While on final approach and touchdown the pilot did not maintain adequate peripheral vision, lost directional control, and ran off the left side of the runway. He attempted a go-around but the aircraft struck an open trench. The left main gear collapsed which allowed the left wing and propeller to strike the ground. There were no reported mechanical problems.
Factual narrative
On July 30, 1996, about 0830 hours mountain standard time, a Waco UPF7, N29974, ran off the runway, struck an obstruction and ground looped while landing at Payson Airport, Payson, Arizona. The aircraft sustained substantial damage; however, neither the commercial pilot nor his passenger/mechanic was injured. The aircraft was being operated as a personal flight when the accident occurred. The flight originated in Payson about 0815 on the day of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan had been filed.
The pilot reported to an FAA inspector that he and his mechanic were performing a maintenance test flight after an engine overhaul. While on final approach to runway 24, the pilot did not maintain adequate peripheral vision, lost directional control, and ran off the left side of the runway. He attempted a go-around but the aircraft struck an open trench causing it to abruptly yaw about 120 degrees. The left main gear then collapsed which allowed the left wing and propeller to strike the ground.
After the accident the aircraft was moved to a hangar on the Payson airport. A postaccident inspection conducted by an airworthiness inspector found damage to the left wing spars.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N29974
- Reported as
- Waco UPF7
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 5471
- Airframe hours
- 4,851
- Engine
- Jacobs L4/R755-7, 245 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- Albert Michael Clearman
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 26, 1996
- Departed
- E69
- Airport
- E69 · Payson Airport, runway 24, 5,500 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 58
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 3,524 total · 5 in this make and model · 3,391 as pilot in command · 66 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N29974 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.