Waco Classic Aircraft CORP 2T-1A-2 accident near Battle Creek, Michigan, September 16, 2021
On September 16, 2021 at about 7:56 pm local time, a 2015 Waco Classic Aircraft CORP 2T-1A-2, registered N53GL, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Battle Creek, Michigan (Battle Creek Exec At Kellogg F airport). It was an instructional 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 of the tailwheel equipped airplane during a crosswind landing and the flight instructor’s inadequate remedial action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 16, 2021 · about 7:56 pm local time
- Place
- Battle Creek, Michigan · Battle Creek Exec At Kellogg F · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Waco Classic Aircraft CORP 2T-1A-2, built 2015 · all 2T-1A-2s on the register
- Registration
- N53GL · registry record · serial 1206
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was receiving additional flight instruction in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. During the landing with a crosswind, the airplane bounced and then settled onto the runway. The airplane veered to the right, so the pilot applied left rudder but overcorrected to the left. The pilot then relinquished the controls to the flight instructor. The flight instructor was unable to regain control and the airplane ground looped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower right wing rear spar and aileron. The pilot and flight instructor both reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 490.6 hours in all; 12.2 in this make and model; 65.7 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 408.5 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 31, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,952 hours in all; 181 in this make and model; 114 in the last 90 days; 57 in the last 30 days; 1,866 as pilot in command; 956 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 7, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 161.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 14, 2021; 10.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-B1G6 (piston); 1,612 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 05L/, 10,004 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from KBTL
Weather report (METAR): KBTL 161953Z 20004KT 10SM CLR 26/11 A3011 RMK AO2 SLP193 T02560106
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on October 14, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (Pilot-owner) | PDF, 15 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (CFI) | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.