Waco UPF 7 accident near Rio Vista, California, March 6, 2015
On March 6, 2015 at about 8:30 pm local time, a 1941 Waco UPF 7, registered N32063, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Rio Vista, California (Rio Vista 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 maintain directional control during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 6, 2015 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Rio Vista, California · Rio Vista · 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
- N32063 · registry record · serial 5695
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that the airplane touched down uneventfully. During the landing roll a gust of wind picked up the right wing, the pilot applied right aileron and right rudder correction to regain control, but was unable to do so. The pilot lost directional control and advanced the throttle to the full position in an attempt to execute a go-around, subsequently the left wing came in contact with the ground and ground looped, which resulted in substantial damage to both of the left wings and left lift struts. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with 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 (aborted after touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,500 hours in all; 50 in this make and model
- Last flight review: August 28, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,745 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 10, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 3,095 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor R670-SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: STS Santa Rosa CA at 7:10 pm
- Destination: O88 Rio Vista CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 4,199 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 7:58 pm from KSUU, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on April 27, 2015. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Additional Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo 1 - Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of Pilot) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.