Waco UKS-7 accident near El Paso, Texas, March 9, 2003
On March 9, 2003 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Waco UKS-7, registered N17721, was substantially damaged in an accident near El Paso, Texas (El Paso International 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
The pilot's failure to compensate for existing wind conditions. A contributing factor was the crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 9, 2003 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- El Paso, Texas · El Paso International Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Waco UKS-7
- Registration
- N17721 · registry record · serial 4632
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 1937-vintage tailwheel-equipped airplane ground looped while landing. The 20,000-hour pilot reported that while on approach, he obtained the weather information from the automatic terminal information service (ATIS) stating that the winds were from 340 degrees at 5 knots. The pilot observed the airport's windsock blowing in a quartering tailwind position, and stated that the windsock "appeared" to be blowing at more than 5 knots. After landing on Runway 26L, the bi-plane rolled approximately 2,000 feet. A gust of wind "pushed" the rudder to the left, and the aircraft ground looped approximately 90 degrees to the right. At the time of the accident, the winds were reported from 340 degrees at 8 knots.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W-670 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CGZ Casa Grande AZ at 3:30 pm
- Destination: ELP El Paso TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 26L, 9,025 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
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.