Waco UPF-7 accident near Brighton, Colorado, July 6, 1984
On July 6, 1984 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Waco UPF-7, registered N32079, was destroyed in an accident near Brighton, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 1984 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Brighton, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Waco UPF-7 · all UPF-7s on the register
- Registration
- N32079 · registry record · serial 5711
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT DEPARTED CASPER, WY, AT 0500 WITH FULL FUEL TANKS. AT 0807 THE PLT LANDED AT AN AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE BUT DECLINEED TO REFUEL AND DEPARTED AT 0918. ONLY A TRACE OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE ACFT WRECKAGE. THE ACFT HAD BEEN ALOFT 3 HOURS AND 34 MINUTES. THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF THE ACFT INDICATED THAT THE ENG BURNED APPROXIMATELY 15 GPH. THE TOTAL USEABLE FUEL CAPACITY IS 48 GALLONS. THE PLT TOLD THE AIRPLANE'S PREVIOUS OWNER THAT HE HAD GOTTEN LESS THAN 3 HOURS OF SLEEP THE NIGHT BEFORE THE FLT. THE PLT DECLINED A CHECKOUT IN THE ACFT PRIOR TO THE FLT AND HAD NO PREVIOUS FLT TIME IN THE WACO.
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: 1,114 hours in all; 22 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 1,014 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,941 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 5, 1984; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W-670-6A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BKF Aurora CO at 3:18 pm
- Destination: 48V Erie CO
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from DEN, 15 miles away
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.
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.