Waco UPF-7 accident near Warrenton, Virginia, August 20, 2023
On August 20, 2023 at about 11:30 pm local time, a 1942 Waco UPF-7, registered N39721, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Warrenton, Virginia (Flying Circus Aerodrome airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A ground loop during landing resulting from a partial separation of the right main landing gear strut during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 20, 2023 · about 11:30 pm local time · cases in 2023
- Place
- Warrenton, Virginia · Flying Circus Aerodrome · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Waco UPF-7, built 1942 · all UPF-7s on the register
- Registration
- N39721 · registry record · serial 5854
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, after takeoff in the vintage tailwheel-equipped biplane, he was notified via radio that the right main landing gear was partially separated from the airframe. The pilot, returned to the airport and during landing, he continued to fly the airplane down the runway with the right main landing gear in the air until the airplane decelerated and settled onto the turf runway. Once the airplane slowed, it “ground loop[ed]” and came to rest on the nose, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. Postaccident examination revealed that the inner strut had separated from the outer strut but remained partially attached.
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
- Landing gear collapse during landing defining event
- Part(s) separation from AC during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Damaged/degraded other cases naming the landing gear
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: sport pilot
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2023
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental R-670-6A (piston); 2,560 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 2,500 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 7:35 pm from HWY, 2 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KHWY 202335Z AUTO 17003KT 10SM CLR 29/15 A3009 RMK AO2 T02910145
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on November 16, 2023. 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 | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record - FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N39721 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N39721 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Waco UPF-7 189 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Waco 657 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental R-670-6A 170 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Flying Circus Aerodrome · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Virginia 1,361 since 1982 · 228 in the last ten years
- Virginia 5,972 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N39721 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA23LA345.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.