Waco UPF-7 accident near Atlanta, Georgia, February 24, 2024
On February 24, 2024 at about 6:52 pm local time, a 1941 Waco UPF-7, registered N30169, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Atlanta, Georgia (Dekalb-Peachtree 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing in gusting crosswind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 24, 2024 · about 6:52 pm local time
- Place
- Atlanta, Georgia · Dekalb-Peachtree · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Waco UPF-7 NO SERIES, built 1941 · all UPF-7s on the register
- Registration
- N30169 · registry record · serial 5566
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped biplane had previously performed three uneventful full stop taxi back landings to runway 34. After takeoff the pilot remained in the airport traffic pattern for the fourth landing with the reported wind from 300° at 18 knots, gusting to 31 knots. While slowing after touchdown the airplane began drifting to the left. He applied corrective control inputs, but the airplane departed the runway and collided with a taxiway sign resulting in substantial damage to the lower left wing. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of 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
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,080 hours in all; 158 in this make and model; 108 in the last 90 days; 72 in the last 30 days; 866 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 12, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 18, 2023; 5,360 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W670-6A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 3,968 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 18 knots, gusting 31
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from KPDK
Weather report (METAR): METAR KPDK 241853Z 30018G31KT 10SM SCT075 17/M02 A2984 RMK AO2 PK WND 28034/1819 SLP104 T01671017=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA24LA125.