Classic Aircraft Corp. Waco YMF accident near Hagerstown, Maryland, May 30, 2006
On May 30, 2006 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Classic Aircraft Corp. Waco YMF, registered N369AS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hagerstown, Maryland (Hagerstown Regional Airport). It was a business 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
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 2006 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hagerstown, Maryland · Hagerstown Regional Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Classic Aircraft Corp. Waco YMF
- Registration
- N369AS · registry record
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of a commercial sightseeing flight taxied to runway 27, and since the wind was reported as calm, used no crosswind correction for takeoff. During the takeoff roll the airplane was "tracking nicely," however, it took increasing right rudder input to keep the airplane straight. The pilot "ran out of right rudder" and the airplane turned left. Since it felt like the airplane was about to become airborne, the pilot tried to lift off, without result. The airplane departed the left side of the runway, and was substantially damaged. Review of data from an onboard video recorder revealed, images of the windsock, with its small end pointing towards the ground, and the airplane ground looping. No preimpact malfunctions of the rudder or tailwheel steering control systems were discovered.
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; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,397 hours in all; 225 in this make and model; 186 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 2,199 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 518 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2005; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs 755B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HGR Hagerstown MD at 3:00 pm
- Destination: HGR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 5,461 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from HGR
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.