Waco UPF-7 accident near Creve Coeur, Missouri, June 6, 1989
On June 6, 1989 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Waco UPF-7, registered N29309, was substantially damaged in an accident near Creve Coeur, Missouri (Creve Coeur airport). It was a personal flight 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
IMPROPER USE OF THE CARBURETOR HEAT BY THE PILOT AND CARBURETOR ICE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS, HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS AND TERRAIN CONDITIONS (CORN CROP).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 1989 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Creve Coeur, Missouri · Creve Coeur · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Waco UPF-7 · all UPF-7s on the register
- Registration
- N29309 · registry record · serial 5336
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, AFTER ATTAINING AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 100 FT, THE ENGINE BEGAN LOSING POWER. HE INITIATED A SHALLOW RIGHT TURN TO AVOID TREES AND TO STAY OVER THE AIRPORT. HOWEVER, THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER AND AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE IN AN ADJACENT CORN FIELD WHERE THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WAS FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION. THE TEMPERATURE & DEW POINT WERE 81 AND 50 DEGREES, RESPECTIVELY. ACCORDING TO ICING PROBABILITY CHARTS, CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE TO CARBURETOR ICING.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,431 hours in all; 52 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 1,246 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,556 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 11, 1988; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W-670-6N (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Rwm Enterprises,Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: 1H0 at 10:29 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,020 ft by 175 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from SUS, 8 miles away
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.
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.