Waco YMF-5 accident near Valparaiso, Indiana, November 2, 1993
On November 2, 1993 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Waco YMF-5, registered N369DP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Valparaiso, Indiana (Porter County Airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS WHILE LANDING IN A GUSTY CROSSWIND. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT ARE THE GUSTY CROSSWIND AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 2, 1993 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Valparaiso, Indiana · Porter County Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Waco YMF-5
- Registration
- N369DP · registry record · serial F5-007
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS LANDING IN A GUSTY CROSSWIND WHEN A GUST OF WIND LIFTED THE LEFT WING. HE SAID HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, AND THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY GROUND LOOPED AND NOSED OVER. THE PILOT REPORTED A TOTAL OF 5.8 HOURS OF FLIGHT EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE AIRPLANE AT THE TIME THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 937 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 842 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 330 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1993; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs R755B2M1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LAN Lansing MI at 5:00 pm
- Destination: CEK Crete NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 6,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 8,000 ft; not recorded at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from VPZ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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 N369DP 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.