Waco Classic Aircraft YMF accident near Pace, Florida, May 7, 2016
On May 7, 2016 at about 9:30 pm local time, a 2006 Waco Classic Aircraft YMF, registered N119SW, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Pace, Florida (J-22 Ranch airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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 takeoff roll, and his excessive pitch attitude at low airspeed during initial climb, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and consequent ground impact.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 7, 2016 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pace, Florida · J-22 Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Waco Classic Aircraft YMF F5C, built 2006
- Registration
- N119SW · registry record · serial F5C112
- 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, he was taking off from a grass airstrip outlined by trees, in a tailwheel-equipped bi-plane. The pilot reported that he increased the airspeed and pushed forward on the stick in order to raise the tailwheel off of the ground, at which time the airplane began to veer left. The pilot recalled that he applied full right rudder and right aileron, and the airplane felt like it was "skipping down the runway" while continuing the left veer. The pilot reported that the airplane then swerved to the right, the nose pitched up, and the airplane "skipped", and became airborne at a low airspeed. The pilot recollected that he pulled the throttle back and the airplane banked left, and the left upper and lower wings impacted the ground. The airplane came to rest facing the opposite direction of takeoff, with substantial damage to the left wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that he believe the left main landing gear brake locked up, initiating the accident sequence. An airworthiness inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspected the wheel and brake assembly which had separated from the airplane as a result of the impact, and found that the left wheel rotated freely with no indication of binding. The brake assembly revealed no indications of seizure, and a function check indicated normal operation at the time of the inspection. The FAA Inspector also reported that there were no indications of ground scars on the grass strip in the area of the takeoff roll that indicated binding or seizure of the left brake. Furthermore, a cell phone video of the takeoff, viewed by the NTSB investigator, showed the airplane during the takeoff roll with the tailwheel on the ground for the entire duration of the takeoff roll. The recording showed that as the airplane veered left, the airplane ascended with the nose canted approximately 45 degrees to the left of the runway centerline. The airplane remained airborne for seven seconds before it descended in a left bank, and impacted the ground.
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
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during takeoff defining event
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,316 hours in all; 112 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 4,136 as pilot in command; 1,530 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 1, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 348.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 14, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs R755B2M (piston); 3,493 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 16FL Milton FL at 9:30 pm
- Destination: 16FL Milton FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,000 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from KNSE, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on August 18, 2016. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | 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.