Waco UPF-7 accident near Plymouth, New Hampshire, July 9, 1988
On July 9, 1988 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Waco UPF-7, registered N32126, was substantially damaged in an accident near Plymouth, New Hampshire. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. 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
- July 9, 1988 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Plymouth, New Hampshire
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Waco UPF-7 · all UPF-7s on the register
- Registration
- N32126 · registry record · serial 5758
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ENG LOST POWER DURING TAKEOFF AS THE ACFT WAS CLIMBING THRU ABOUT 200 TO 250 FT AGL. UNABLE TO RESTORE POWER, HE TURNED TO LAND IN A CORN FIELD, BUT WAS UNABLE TO REACH IT. HE THEN SELECTED A SMALLER FIELD, BUT DURING THE LANDING, THE ACFT SLID INTO TREES & WAS DAMAGED. AN EXAM OF THE ENG DID NOT REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE ENG WAS RUNNING WHEN THE ACFT STRUCK TREES; HOWEVER, THE AMOUNT OF POWER AVAILABLE TO THE PROP WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 100 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. THERE WERE TWO PAX IN THE FRONT SEAT. THE PILOT HAD OPERATED THE AIRCRAFT FOR ABOUT 3.5 HOURS.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,700 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W-670 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Plymouth NH at 9:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 100°F (38°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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 N32126 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.