Waco SRE accident near Prescott, Arizona, January 10, 2003
On January 10, 2003 at about 7:49 pm local time, a Waco SRE, registered N1252W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Prescott, Arizona (Prescott Love Field). 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 pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing resulting in a collision with a runway sign. Factors in the accident were the tailwind and the malfunctioning brake system.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 10, 2003 · about 7:49 pm local time
- Place
- Prescott, Arizona · Prescott Love Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Waco SRE · all SREs on the register
- Registration
- N1252W · registry record · serial 5153
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
This was the pilot's third flight in the airplane accompanied by the owner. There was a right quartering tailwind of 6 knots on the landing runway. After a three-point touchdown, the airplane began to veer to the left at about a 10-degree angle. Right brake was applied for correction, but the airplane continued to turn left. The airplane impacted a runway sign which collapsed the right main landing gear. Post accident left brake examination revealed intermittent brake application when either rudder pedal reached full travel due to the linkage beginning to push the brake master cylinder's piston. The right brake could not be tested since the brake line was cut during aircraft recovery.
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, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,141 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 73 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 4,933 as pilot in command; 2,151 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 3, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 7, 2002; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-98514B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PRC Prescott AZ at 7:15 pm
- Destination: PRC Prescott AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21L, 7,550 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from PRC
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.
Other NTSB records under N1252W 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.