Waco UPF-7 accident near Stebensville, Pennsylvania, July 9, 1991
On July 9, 1991 at about 1:40 pm local time, a Waco UPF-7, registered N32126, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stebensville, Pennsylvania. It was a positioning 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL THE AIRPLANE, HIS IMPROPER FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS, AND HIS FAILURE TO FLARE THE AIRPLANE DURING THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 9, 1991 · about 1:40 pm local time
- Place
- Stebensville, Pennsylvania · 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
- N32126 · registry record · serial 5758
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. HE UNDERSHOT THE DESIRED TOUCHDOWN POINT AND THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED DURING A HARD LANDING. POST-CRASH EXAMINATION FOUND THE FUEL SYSTEM INTACT WITH ONE TANK DRY AND THE OTHER WITH 3/4 OF AN INCH OF FUEL. THE AIRPLANE HELD 50 GALLONS WITH 47 GALLONS USABLE. THE PILOT HAD FLOWN APPROXIMATELY 3 HOURS 33 MINUTES AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AND THIS INCLUDED THREE TAKEOFFS. THE FAA REPORTED THE AIRPLANE CONSUMED APPROXIMTELY 15 GALLONS PER HOUR WHILE THE PILOT SAID HE BASED HIS CALCULATIONS ON 12 GALLONS PER HOUR.
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, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,100 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days; 3,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W-670-K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5N5 Kirkwood NY at 1:15 pm
- Destination: N27 Towanda PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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 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.