Waco ASO accident near Goodland, Kansas, June 2, 2002
On June 2, 2002 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Waco ASO, registered NC662Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Goodland, Kansas (Renner Fld /Goodland Municipal 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
Failure of the tailwheel assembly after touchdown that resulted in loss of airplane directional control, which the pilot could not correct. A contributing factor was the improper assembly of the tailwheel.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 2, 2002 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Goodland, Kansas · Renner Fld /Goodland Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Waco ASO · all ASOs on the register
- Registration
- NC662Y · no longer on the register · serial 3228
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was substantially damaged when it veered off the runway during landing. The pilot reported that when the tailwheel touched down, the airplane started to shake and bang and turn left. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and the right lower wing contacted a dirt mound breaking the wing spars. A postaccident teardown of the tailwheel assembly by the manufacturer determined that the tailwheel was not assembled according to the manufacturer's specifications. The teardown inspection determined that the tailwheel "would not function properly because it was incorrectly assembled."
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 15,000 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 179 in the last 90 days; 58 in the last 30 days; 11,000 as pilot in command; 2,100 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 1, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,091 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 22, 2002; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Wright R-760-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PTT Pratt KS at 3:15 pm
- Destination: GLD Goodland KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 3,501 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 26.68 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from KGLD
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.
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.