Waco UPF-7 accident near Manning, South Carolina, August 5, 1991
On August 5, 1991 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Waco UPF-7, registered N29926, was substantially damaged in an accident near Manning, South Carolina (Clarendon County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, AND HIS FAILURE TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF IN A TIMELY MANNER ONCE THE AIRPLANE HAD DEPARTED THE RUNWAY SURFACE. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO UTILIZE THE ENTIRE AVAILABLE RUNWAY FOR TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 5, 1991 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Manning, South Carolina · Clarendon County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Waco UPF-7 · all UPF-7s on the register
- Registration
- N29926 · registry record · serial 5423
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS PERFORMING AN INTERSECTION TAKEOFF FOR A LOCAL FLIGHT. HE REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT ACCELERATING NORMALLY ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE SOUNDED NORMAL. AT ABOUT 700 FEET INTO THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY ALLOWED THE AIRPLANE TO DEPART THE RUNWAY TO THE LEFT INTO THE GRASS. UNABLE TO CONTINUE THE TAKEOFF, THE PILOT GROUND LOOPED THE AIRPLANE. THE FAA INSPECTOR REPORTED THAT THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CONTINUE THE TAKEOFF AFTER THE AIRPLANE HAD DEPARTED THE RUNWAY SURFACE. THE GRASS ALONG THE RUNWAY WAS ABOUT 12 INCHES HIGH AND THE GROUND WAS WET. RUNUP INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE FAILED TO INDICATE ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS OR LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 758 hours in all; 171 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 640 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1991; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W670 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 3,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from SSC, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N29926 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.