- Date
- July 2, 2000, 17:11 local (21:11 UTC)
- Place
- Bally, PA
- Injuries
- 3 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N32133Waco UPF-7
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 2, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000702040339A
- Case key
- 49578
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 pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane after an aborted takeoff.
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
The airplane was departing on a 2,420-foot long, 85-foot wide, asphalt and turf runway. As the airplane was rolling on the asphalt portion of the runway, the pilot observed a moving golf cart ahead and to the right of the airplane. The pilot perceived that the airplane was on a collision course with the golf cart and veered to the left, onto the turf portion of the runway. The pilot then aborted the takeoff and the airplane continued to travel to the left side of the turf runway. The terrain on the left side of the turf runway sloped downward about 6 feet. The airplane continued down the slope, nosed over, and came to rest inverted against a tree.
Factual narrative
On July 2, 2000, about 1711 Eastern Daylight Time, a Waco UPF-7, N32133, was substantially damaged during the initial climb from the Butter Valley Golf Port, Bally, Pennsylvania. The certificated commercial pilot and two passengers sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal local flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to the pilot, he was departing on Runway 34, a 2,420-foot long, 85 foot wide, asphalt and turf runway. As the airplane was rolling on the asphalt portion of the runway, he observed a moving golf cart ahead and to the right of the airplane. The pilot perceived that the airplane was on a collision course with the golf cart and veered to the left, onto the turf portion of the runway. The pilot then aborted the takeoff and the airplane continued to travel to the left side of the turf runway. The terrain on the left side of the turf runway sloped downward about 6 feet. The airplane continued down the slope, nosed over, and came to rest inverted against a tree.
In a telephone interview, the pilot stated that there was a golf course located around the perimeter of the airport. As the airplane was rolling down the runway, he saw a golf cart on a collision course and lost control after the evasive action to avoid the golf cart.
The winds reported by a nearby airport, at 1651, were from 220 degrees at 8 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N32133
- Reported as
- Waco UPF-7
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 5765
- Airframe hours
- 5,782
- Engine
- Continental W670-6A, 220 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Fred A. Schmukler
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 16, 2000 · 15 hours before
- Departed
- 7N8
- Destination
- PN00 · Sassamansville, PA
- Airport
- 7N8 · Butter Valley Golf Port, runway 34, 2,420 × 85 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
- 54
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 1,618 total · 527 in this make and model · 1,461 as pilot in command · 31 in the last 90 days · 27 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ABE, 16 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.
Other investigations on N32133 · 5
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.