Waco YMF accident near Fullerton, California, December 25, 2015
On December 25, 2015 at about 11:35 pm local time, a 1986 Waco YMF, registered N99Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Fullerton, California (Fullerton Muni 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
- December 25, 2015 · about 11:35 pm local time
- Place
- Fullerton, California · Fullerton Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Waco YMF NO SERIES, built 1986 · all YMFs on the register
- Registration
- N99Y · registry record · serial F5-002
- 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 reported that during the landing roll, a gust of wind lifted the right wing. The airplane started to ground-loop to the right, the left main landing gear collapsed, and left wing impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the bottom left wing. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather reporting station located at Fullerton Municipal Airport reported at 1553 Pacific standard time, wind from 300 degrees at 10 knots, wind gust 20 knots, 10 miles visibility, clear sky, temperature 59 degrees Fahrenheit (F), dew point 16 degrees F, and a barometric pressure of 30.01 inches of mercury.
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)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 416 hours in all; 78 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 372 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 3, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 720.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 3, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs R755-B2 (piston); 720 hours total
- Operator: Scotty Box R&D LLC
The flight
- Departed from: FUL Fullerton CA at 10:38 pm
- Destination: FUL Fullerton CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,121 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from KFUL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N99Y the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.