Waco ASO accident near Lexington, Kentucky, April 9, 2004
On April 9, 2004 at about 11:23 pm local time, a Waco ASO, registered N11253, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lexington, Kentucky (Blue Grass 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 inadequate remedial action to wake turbulence. A factor was the pilot's failure to recognize that the takeoff conditions were conducive to wake turbulence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 9, 2004 · about 11:23 pm local time
- Place
- Lexington, Kentucky · Blue Grass Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Waco ASO · all ASOs on the register
- Registration
- N11253 · registry record · serial 3212
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot initiated his takeoff roll from a runway position where a transport airplane had previously touched down. When the pilot began the takeoff roll, the transport airplane had just cleared the runway. During the takeoff roll, airplane's tail elevation was normal until it "spontaneously" went higher. The pilot lowered the tail; however, it again went higher, and the propeller hit the runway. The pilot again tried to lower the tail, but it went higher still, with a "heavier contact of the propeller," and the airplane then nosed over. The pilot also noted that there "seemed to be some lateral turbulence during the takeoff." At the time of the accident, there was a 3-knot, quartering tailwind. According to FAA Advisory Circular 90-23F, "Aircraft Wake Turbulence," a light quartering tailwind "requires maximum caution." In addition, "Whether or not a warning or information has been given, the pilot is expected to adjust aircraft operations and flight path as necessary to preclude serious wake encounters."
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,526 hours in all; 1,051 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: October 21, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,407 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 4, 2003; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W670-6N (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LEX Lexington KY
- Destination: Lexington KY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 7,003 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 10:54 pm from LEX
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.