# NTSB MIA98LA147: Waco 10 GXE, N903H, Americus, GA, April 23, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 23, 1998, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Americus, GA - Coordinates: 32.070644, -84.220329 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.0706&lon=-84.2203&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 11, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38511 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA147 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38511/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA147 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control and his improper compensation for wind. Contributing was a crosswind. ## Analysis Upon landing roll-out on runway 05, with predominately west winds being reported in the area, the airplane weather-cocked left, started a right-side-leading skid, departed the left edge of the runway and collapsed the right main landing gear strut. ## Factual narrative On April 23, 1998, about 1330 eastern daylight time, a 1929 Waco GXE, N903H, registered to a private individual, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal cross-country flight, ground looped on landing to runway 05 at Souther Field, Americus, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the commercial-rated pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight departed Cross City Airport, Florida, 2 hours 30 minutes before the accident. The pilot stated the biplane started veering left on landing roll, he lost directional control, and skidded off the left runway edge. As the airplane left the runway surface, the right main landing gear strut collapsed, and the right lower wing contacted the ground sustaining structural damage to the wing, the fuselage and the right horizontal stabilizer. According to a witness, the biplane skidded sideways, (right side leading) off the runway edge after about 600 to 800 feet of rollout, collapsing the right main landing gear strut. Observed winds at 1254 from the Macon, Georgia, AFSS, which is about 50 miles to the northeast of Souther Field, were 290 degrees at 9 knots. The pilot states his recollection of the wind direction on landing as being, "variable". ## 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 - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Main gear collapsed, landing - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N903H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N903H), registered now, S/N 2037, built 1929 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Waco 10 GXE - Registry model: [Waco GXE](https://openairdocs.org/model/waco-gxe) (registry code 9600702) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental W670 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-w670-series) (registry code 17018, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2037 - Airframe hours: 1930 - Engines: Continental W-670-6N 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Arlee W. Titel - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 1997, 50 hours before - Departed: CTY, CROSS CITY, FL - Destination: ACJ - Airport: ACJ, Souther Field, runway 5, 5,021 × 100 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 3,182 total, 600 in this make and model, 3,182 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MC, 51 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 19980423021319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980423021319A), Apr 23, 1998: Waco GXE, Americus, GA, Substantial damage. Ground looped landing. Folded right main. Right wing bent. Unexpected wind and pilot fatigue factors. ## Other investigations on N903H (1) 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. - [NTSB IAD05LA074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD05LA074), Jun 11, 2005: Waco GXE (N903H), Paducah, KY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing resulting in a ground loop and impact with the runway. A factor in the accident was the limited authority of the tailwheel steering… 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.