Waco YOC accident near Allentown, Pennsylvania, April 4, 2003
On April 4, 2003 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Waco YOC, registered N15244, was substantially damaged in an accident near Allentown, Pennsylvania (Lehigh Valley International 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 instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while landing which resulted in a ground loop. A factor in the accident was the crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 4, 2003 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Allentown, Pennsylvania · Lehigh Valley International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Waco YOC · all YOCs on the register
- Registration
- N15244 · registry record · serial 4327
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was landing on runway 6, a 7,600 foot long, 150 foot wide, asphalt runway. He said there was a crosswind from 100 degrees at 20 to 25 knots. After touchdown, a gust of wind caught the right wing and the tail wheeled airplane ground looped, which resulted in damage to the left lower wing. The pilot did not report any mechanical difficulties with the airplane. Winds reported at the airport about 10 minutes before the accident were from 110 degrees at 12 knots
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,317 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 7,317 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 30, 2002; 57 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs 755B-2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SBY Salisbury MD at 9:00 pm
- Destination: ABE Allentown PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 7,600 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 700 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from ABE
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.