# NTSB SEA94LA110: Waco UPF-7, N134Q, Lander, WY, April 27, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 26, 1994, 19:00 local (Apr 27, 1994, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Lander, WY - Coordinates: 42.829139, -108.720268 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8291&lon=-108.7203&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 2, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 41917 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA110 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41917/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA110 ## Probable cause POOR IN-FLIGHT PLANNING DECISION. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AND INADVERTENT VFR INTO IMC. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal - weather condition - whiteout (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause) - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent ## Analysis WHILE FOLLOWING A HIGHWAY THROUGH A MOUNTAIN PASS, THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED A WHITEOUT CONDITION THAT REDUCED VISIBILITY TO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. THE PILOT LOST ALL GROUND REFERENCE AND OPTED TO DESCEND IN ALTITUDE WITH THE SLOWEST POSSIBLE AIRSPEED. THE PILOT KEPT THE WINGS LEVEL UNTIL THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND IN AN OPEN FIELD. ## Factual narrative On April 26, 1994, at 1900 mountain daylight time, a Waco UPF-7, N134Q, collided with the terrain near Lander, Wyoming, during a personal flight. The flight encountered instrument meteorological conditions and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the airline transport pilot received minor injuries. The flight had originated from Rawlins, Wyoming, on April 26, 1994, at 1715, and was en route to Billings, Montana. The pilot reported that he was following a highway in visual meteorological conditions. As the flight approached the mountains and rising terrain, the weather began to deteriorate and snow was falling. When the flight turned around a bend, the airplane encountered instrument meteorological conditions. The pilot reported that he lost all ground reference in the whiteout condition and was unable to turn the airplane around due to the lack of terrain clearance. The pilot opted to descend in altitude and reduced power to the slowest possible airspeed. The pilot kept the wings level until the airplane collided with the terrain in an open field. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N134Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N134Q), registered now, S/N 5484, 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: 5484 - Airframe hours: 2670 - Engines: CONTINENTAL W-670-6A 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ulrich, Philip J. - Registered owner: Ulrich, Philip J. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 1993, 14 hours before - Departed: RWL, RAWLINS, WY - Destination: BIL, BILLINGS, MT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; airline transport, flight engineer, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: rear; flight hours: 14,000 total, 12 in this make and model, 9,000 as pilot in command, 135 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 1 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 800 ft overcast - Temperature: 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19940426009299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940426009299A), Apr 26, 1994: Waco UPF7, Lander, WY, Substantial damage. Encountered IMC following a road. Whiteout conditions in heavy snow. Descended, reduced speed. Impact in open field ## Other investigations on N134Q (2) 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 ERA17LA253](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA253), Jul 3, 2017: Waco UPF 7 (N134Q), Brunswick, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the right main landing gear strut brace for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence. - [NTSB ANC95LA143](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA143), Aug 18, 1995: Waco UPF-7 (N134Q), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION, WHICH RESULTED IN AN UNLOCKED ENGINE PRIMER AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. 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.