Classic Aircraft CORP WACO accident near North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, July 9, 2018
On July 9, 2018 at about 3:00 pm local time, a 1993 Classic Aircraft CORP WACO, registered N96T, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (Grand Strand airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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 landing in a left quartering headwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 9, 2018 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina · Grand Strand · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Classic Aircraft CORP WACO YMF, built 1993
- Registration
- N96T · registry record · serial F5C-052
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, after a three-point landing, the airplane began to "shudder" and veered left. He corrected by applying forward pressure to the control stick and right rudder, and the airplane's tailwheel raised off the runway, and the airplane regained the runway heading. As the airspeed decreased, the tailwheel touched down on the runway, and the airplane shuddered and veered left again. He corrected with right rudder, left brake and aileron, but the airplane ground looped to the left, and the main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot added that, about 1 hour before the accident, the wind was from 340º at 12 knots, gusting to 17 knots. The airport's automated weather observation system reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 340° at 8 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 5.
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
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse 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 › Crosswind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,645 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days; 6,450 as pilot in command; 4,850 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 14, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 8, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 2,770 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs R-755 B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Executive Helicopters Inc
The flight
- Departed from: CRE North Myrtle Beach SC at 2:40 pm
- Destination: CRE North Myrtle Beach SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 05, 5,997 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KCRE
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on May 9, 2019. 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 | Accident Photo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation | 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.