Waco UPF-7 accident near Norwood, Massachusetts, October 14, 1985
On October 14, 1985 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Waco UPF-7, registered N39714, was substantially damaged in an accident near Norwood, Massachusetts (Norwood Mem. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 14, 1985 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Norwood, Massachusetts · Norwood Mem. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Waco UPF-7 · all UPF-7s on the register
- Registration
- N39714 · registry record · serial 5847
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, DURING THE TAKEOFF CLIMB THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT DEVELOP SUFFICIENT POWER TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. THE PILOT TURNED THE AIRCRAFT TO THE RIGHT IN AN ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. DURING THE APPROACH TO THE AIRPORT, THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH WOODED TERRAIN NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF THE RUNWAYS.
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,631 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 1,541 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,850 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W670-6A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 4,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:30 pm from ORD
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.
Other NTSB records under N39714 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.