Waco YPF-7 accident near Dewey, Arizona, August 17, 2002
On August 17, 2002 at about 9:55 pm local time, a Waco YPF-7, registered N29904, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dewey, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power due to a flooded carburetor. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 2002 · about 9:55 pm local time
- Place
- Dewey, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Waco YPF-7
- Registration
- N29904 · registry record · serial 5401
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The vintage biplane was in cruise flight at 9,500 feet msl, when the engine lost power. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a narrow dirt road and attempted to reestablish engine power to no avail. The airplane touched down at an airspeed just below 70 mph, and started to decelerate. The lower left wingtip struck a barbed wire fence. The airplane veered to the right, impacted a fence, and nosed over coming to rest inverted. Examination of the engine, under supervision of an FAA inspector, revealed that the carburetor float was cracked, which "resulted in a flooded carburetor". The aircraft maintenance records indicated the carburetor was overhauled 3 months prior to the accident.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 20,457 hours in all; 201 in this make and model
- Last flight review: January 26, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,517.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 2, 2002; 31.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs R755-7 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: P32 Williams AZ at 9:28 pm
- Destination: DVT Phoenix AZ
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 12 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from PRC, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.