Classic Aircraft Corp. WACO YMF and Cessna 172N accident near Kailua Kona, Hawaii, December 29, 1995
On December 29, 1995 at about 11:52 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Classic Aircraft Corp. WACO YMF (N40115) and Cessna 172N (N734ZC), were involved in the same accident near Kailua Kona, Hawaii (Keahole International airport). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of the Waco pilot to see and avoid the opposite direction Cessna 172 while both aircraft were taxiing in a non-movement area of the airport. Factors in the accident were: the congested nature of the taxi lane, which limited the Waco pilot's ability to perform clearing turns while taxiing; the Waco pilot's restricted forward visibility due to the landing gear configuration and engine cowling size; and the Cessna pilot's failure to attempt radio contact with the Waco when the danger of a collision became apparent.
The failure of the Waco pilot to see and avoid the opposite direction Cessna 172 while both aircraft were taxiing in a non-movement area of the airport. Factors in the accident were: the congested nature of the taxi lane, which limited the Waco pilot's ability to perform clearing turns while taxiing; the Waco pilot's restricted forward visibility due to the landing gear configuration and engine cowling size; and the Cessna pilot's failure to attempt radio contact with the Waco when the danger of a collision became apparent.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 29, 1995 · about 11:52 pm local time
- Place
- Kailua Kona, Hawaii · Keahole International
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Classic Aircraft Corp. WACO YMF
- Registration
- N40115 · no longer on the register · serial F5-023
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N734ZC · registry record · serial 172269236
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Classic Aircraft Corp. WACO YMF final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Classic Aircraft Waco YMF, N40115, collided with a Cessna 172N, N734ZC, while taxiing on the Kailua Kona, Hawaii, airport. The Waco was returning from a local area for-hire sightseeing flight. The Cessna 172N was taxiing for takeoff on a local area personal flight. The collision occurred in an area of the airport designated as a non-movement ramp area, which is not under the control or supervision of the FAA Air Traffic Control Tower. In verbal and written statements to responding airport security personnel and FAA inspectors, the pilot of the Waco said he entered the ramp area, which was unusually congested with parked aircraft. The proximity of the parked airplanes limited his ability to S-turn and resulted in limited forward visibility. The pilot reported that he did not see the Cessna in time to avoid the collision. The pilot of the Cessna 172N reported that she completed a run-up and entered the taxi lane on the ramp to proceed to the taxiway. After entering the taxi lane, she observed the Waco coming toward her aircraft and moved as far to the side as she could and stopped the aircraft. The pilot said she did not attempt any radio communications with the Waco. The Waco's left wing strut brace contacted the left wing of the Cessna.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172N final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Classic Aircraft Waco YMF, N40115, collided with a Cessna 172N, N734ZC, while taxiing on the Kailua Kona, Hawaii, airport. The Waco was returning from a local area for-hire sightseeing flight. The Cessna 172N was taxiing for takeoff on a local area personal flight. The collision occurred in an area of the airport designated as a non-movement ramp area, which is not under the control or supervision of the FAA Air Traffic Control Tower. In verbal and written statements to responding airport security personnel and FAA inspectors, the pilot of the Waco said he entered the ramp area, which was unusually congested with parked aircraft. The proximity of the parked airplanes limited his ability to S-turn and resulted in limited forward visibility. The pilot reported that he did not see the Cessna in time to avoid the collision. The pilot of the Cessna 172N reported that she completed a run-up and entered the taxi lane on the ramp to proceed to the taxiway. After entering the taxi lane, she observed the Waco coming toward her aircraft and moved as far to the side as she could and stopped the aircraft. The pilot said she did not attempt any radio communications with the Waco. The Waco's left wing strut brace contacted the left wing of the Cessna.
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 for the Classic Aircraft Corp. WACO YMF from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,700 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,770 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs R-755B2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KOA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 11:50 pm from KOA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
The factual record for the Cessna 172N from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 412 hours in all; 358 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 303 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,962 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 5, 1995; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KOA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
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.
Other NTSB records under N40115 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
1990-09-28LAX90LA339 · accident near Kailua, HI · substantial damage · no injuries
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.