# NTSB MIA98LA217: Waco UPF-7, N29927, Key West, FL, August 3, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 3, 1998, 11:56 local (15:56 UTC) - Place: Key West, FL - Coordinates: 24.549259, -81.779251 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=24.5493&lon=-81.7793&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43566 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA217 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43566/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA217 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to undetermined reasons, resulting in an inadvertent stall at too low an altitude to allow recovery. ## Analysis The pilot was approaching for a banner drop, the power was at a low power setting. The pilot released the banner, at an altitude of about 75 feet, applied full power, and received no response from the engine. He then pumped the throttle and again no response. He made a right turn in an attempt to land on runway 9. The airplane stalled, spun in, and impacted the runway nose down. The pilot state that 'he did not apply carburetor heat.' No discrepancies were found with the engine or airframe. ## Factual narrative On August 3, 1998, about 1156 eastern daylight time, a Waco UPF-7, N29927, registered to M and F Flying Inc, crashed near Key West, Florida, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 banner towing flight. Visual meteorological conditions were reported and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed. The airline transport-rated pilot reported minor injuries. The flight had originated from Key West International Airport, Florida, at 1125. According, to the pilot he departed Key West International Airport, Florida, for a routine banner tow. The pilot stated "he was coming in for the banner drop with the power set at around 1600 RPM for the descent. He descended to around 75 feet and when he passed over the banner site he released the banner." The pilot applied full throttle in an attempt to gain airspeed and altitude for the climb out, but the engine did not respond to throttle input. The pilot then stated that he pumped the throttle, but still got no response. According to the pilot, "he decided to start a right turn to try to land on runway 9...and he was two thirds of the way through the turn when the right wing dropped and the aircraft nosed into the runway from an altitude of about 30 feet." According to FAA inspector, "the pilot made a tight right turn to try to land on runway 9,stalled the airplane, spun in, and impacted on the runway about 500 feet from the west end, nose down, and on a heading of about 130 degrees. Upon impact on the runway the airplane caught fire." The pilot stated to FAA inspectors that "he did not apply any carburetor heat on his approach nor when the engine did not respond." Another company pilot stated that "he had flown the aircraft the day before and it was operating normally." Examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any discrepancies or malfunctions during preflight or postcrash. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Loss of control - in flight, descent - uncontrolled - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/spin, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - runway ## Aircraft - Registration: [N29927](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N29927), registered now, S/N 5424, built 1940 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Waco UPF-7 - Registry model: [Waco UPF-7](https://openairdocs.org/model/waco-upf-7) (registry code 9601302) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental W670 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-w670-series) (registry code 17018, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5424 - Engines: Continental W-670 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Registered owner: M And F Flying Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 22, 1998, 469 hours before - Departed: EYW, KEY WEST, FL - Airport: EYW, Key West International, runway 27, 4,800 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 5,843 total, 1,732 in this make and model, 5,316 as pilot in command, 178 in the last 90 days, 64 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,300 ft overcast - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: EYW, 1 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 19980803019389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980803019389A), Aug 3, 1998: Waco UPF7, Key West, FL, Destroyed. Banner towing acft stalled and crash landed on rwy 9, other circumstances are unknown.(.4) the pilot was approaching for a banner drop, the power was at alow… ## Other investigations on N29927 (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 NYC73FHA25](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC73FHA25), May 6, 1973: Waco UPF-7 (N29927), Bedminster, NJ, substantial damage 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.