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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

April 23, 1998 · Waco 10 GXE · N903H

Americus, GA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 23, 1998
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Americus, GA
Aircraft
Waco 10 GXE
Tail Number
N903H
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
MIA98LA147

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.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control and his improper compensation for wind. Contributing was a crosswind.

Full 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".

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:30 EDT
Nearest AirportSouther Field (0nm)
Runway5
Runway Length5021 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftWaco 10 GXE
Tail NumberN903H
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · W-670-6N · Reciprocating · 220
Seats3

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 52 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind290° @ 9 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 6000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point66 F / 46
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time16:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data