Waco UPF7 accident near Payson, Arizona, July 30, 1996
On July 30, 1996 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Waco UPF7, registered N29974, was substantially damaged in an accident near Payson, Arizona (Payson Airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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 pilot to maintain directional control on touchdown and the landing ground roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 30, 1996 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Payson, Arizona · Payson Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Waco UPF7 · all UPF7s on the register
- Registration
- N29974 · registry record · serial 5471
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on final approach and touchdown the pilot did not maintain adequate peripheral vision, lost directional control, and ran off the left side of the runway. He attempted a go-around but the aircraft struck an open trench. The left main gear collapsed which allowed the left wing and propeller to strike the ground. There were no reported mechanical problems.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,524 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 66 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 3,391 as pilot in command; 146 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,851 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 26, 1996
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs L4/R755-7 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: E69 at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 5,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.