Waco UPF-7 and Cessna 172N accident near Key West, Florida, September 10, 1989
On September 10, 1989 at about 6:20 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Waco UPF-7 (N32133) and Cessna 172N (N6552F), were involved in the same accident near Key West, Florida (Key West Intl 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
INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE WACO PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS MISJUDGEMENT OF CLEARANCE BETWEEN HIS AIRCRAFT AND THE CESSNA 172 AND A SUBSEQUENT COLLISION.
INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE WACO PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS MISJUDGEMENT OF CLEARANCE BETWEEN HIS AIRCRAFT AND THE CESSNA 172 AND A SUBSEQUENT COLLISION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 10, 1989 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- Key West, Florida · Key West Intl · map
- 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
- Waco UPF-7 · all UPF-7s on the register
- Registration
- N32133 · registry record · serial 5765
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N6552F · registry record · serial 17273239
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Waco UPF-7 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT OF A WACO UPF-7, N32133, RPRTD HE WAS TAXIING WITH S-TURNS BEHIND A CESSNA 172, N6552F, ON A DIAGONAL TWY. AS THE CESSNA PLT APCHD THE INTERSECTION WITH THE PARALLEL TWY TO THE ACTIVE RWY (RWY 9), HE ELECTED TO STOP & GIVE WAY TO A COMMERCIAL AIRLINER. THE WACO PLT CONTD TAXIING & DID NOT NOTICE THAT THE CESSNA HAD STOPPED UNTIL HIS ACFT WAS ABOUT 20 TO 30 FT FROM THE CESSNA. THE WACO PLT APPLIED BRAKES, BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP BEFORE THE PROP OF HIS ACFT HIT THE EMPENNAGE OF THE CESSNA 172.
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
THE PLT OF A WACO UPF-7, N32133, RPRTD HE WAS TAXIING WITH S-TURNS BEHIND A CESSNA 172, N6552F, ON A DIAGONAL TWY. AS THE CESSNA PLT APCHD THE INTERSECTION WITH THE PARALLEL TWY TO THE ACTIVE RWY (RWY9), HE ELECTED TO STOP & GIVE WAY TO A COMMERCIAL AIRLINER. THE WACO PLT CONTD TAXIING & DID NOT NOTICE THAT THE CESSNA HAD STOPPED UNTIL HIS ACFT WAS ABOUT 20 TO 30 FT FROM THE CESSNA. THE WACO PLT APPLIED BRAKES, BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP BEFORE THE PROP OF HIS ACFT HIT THE EMPENNAGE 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 Waco UPF-7 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W-670 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EYW at 6:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 4,800 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:24 pm from EYW
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: 120 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: LNA West Palm Beach FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 9, 4,800 ft by 100 ft
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 N32133 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.