Waco UPF-7 accident near Greenland, New Hampshire, July 21, 1988
On July 21, 1988 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Waco UPF-7, registered N20973, was substantially damaged in an accident near Greenland, New Hampshire (Sanderson Field). 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 21, 1988 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Greenland, New Hampshire · Sanderson Field
- 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
- N20973 · registry record · serial 5319
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INTENTION OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO GIVE PEOPLE AT AN ANNUAL COMPANY PICNIC A RIDE IN THE AIRCRAFT. AFTER TAKEOFF AND WHILE STARTING A LEFT TURN THE PILOT STATED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED A 'SUDDEN WINDSHEAR/DOWNDRAFT.' THE AIRCRAFT NEVER GOT ABOVE 200 FEET AND COLLIDED WITH A TREE DURING THE RECOVERY. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT THE WINDS WERE GUSTING TO 25 KNOTS AND THAT THE AIRCRAFT GOT INTO A 'STALL CONDITION DURING THE TURN TO DOWNWIND'.
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; 150 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,271 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 9, 1987; 71 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W-670 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Greenland NH at 8:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,700 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 79°F (26°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.
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.