Classic Aircraft Corp. WACO YMF-5 accident near Surfside Beach, South Carolina, August 25, 1992
On August 25, 1992 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Classic Aircraft Corp. WACO YMF-5, registered N527MN, was substantially damaged in an accident near Surfside Beach, South Carolina (Javika airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE MAIN LANDING GEAR AS A RESULT OF INADEQUATE MANUFACTURING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 25, 1992 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Surfside Beach, South Carolina · Javika
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Classic Aircraft Corp. WACO YMF-5
- Registration
- N527MN · registry record · serial F5-012
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT WAS ATTEMPTING A LANDING AT THE PRIVATE SOD AIRFIELD. DURING THE LANDING ATTEMPT, THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR AXLE SEPARATED FROM THE LANDING GEAR STRUT, AND THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE AXLE SEPARATED IN FATIGUE AT THE WELD JOINT BETWEEN THE AXLE AND THE JOINT. MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION OF THE WELD REVEALED THAT THERE WERE AREAS OF THE WELD WITH MULTIPLE GAS VOIDS AND SLAG INCLUSIONS, AND THAT THE WELD HAD NOT COMPLETELY PENETRATED AT THE AREA OF THE INBOARD SIDE OF THE SADDLE JOINT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,060 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 337 in the last 90 days; 88 in the last 30 days; 10,550 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,657 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 6, 1992; 78 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,770 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs R-755B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Beachstormer Air Rides, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 6:05 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 4,000 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from MYR, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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 N527MN 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.