Waco UPF-7 accident near Key West, Florida, October 27, 2000
On October 27, 2000 at about 7:34 pm local time, a Waco UPF-7, registered N32049, was substantially damaged in an accident near Key West, Florida (Key West International airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control during landing with a quartering tail wind, resulting in the aircraft nosing over and coming to rest inverted.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 2000 · about 7:34 pm local time
- Place
- Key West, Florida · Key West International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Waco UPF-7 · all UPF-7s on the register
- Registration
- N32049 · registry record · serial 5680
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that during landing roll, the aircraft turned hard to the left. He applied right rudder and brake and left aileron. The left wing of the aircraft lifted and the aircraft started going straight. When the left wing set back down, the aircraft nosed over and came to rest. He stated he believes the left front passenger inadvertently applied the left brake. The left front passenger stated he was briefed on the controls prior to the flight and at no time did he touch the left brake pedal. The operator reported the wheels turned freely after the accident and that there was no evidence of failure or malfunction of the brakes.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,991 hours in all; 192 in this make and model; 165 in the last 90 days; 81 in the last 30 days; 1,750 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 19, 2000; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W670-6N (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EYW at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 4,800 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from EYW, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.