Waco UPF-7 accident near Lander, Wyoming, April 27, 1994
On April 27, 1994 at about 1:00 am local time, a Waco UPF-7, registered N134Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lander, Wyoming. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
POOR IN-FLIGHT PLANNING DECISION. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AND INADVERTENT VFR INTO IMC.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 27, 1994 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Lander, Wyoming · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Waco UPF-7 · all UPF-7s on the register
- Registration
- N134Q · registry record · serial 5484
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE FOLLOWING A HIGHWAY THROUGH A MOUNTAIN PASS, THE FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED A WHITEOUT CONDITION THAT REDUCED VISIBILITY TO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. THE PILOT LOST ALL GROUND REFERENCE AND OPTED TO DESCEND IN ALTITUDE WITH THE SLOWEST POSSIBLE AIRSPEED. THE PILOT KEPT THE WINGS LEVEL UNTIL THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND IN AN OPEN FIELD.
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, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,000 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 135 in the last 90 days; 55 in the last 30 days; 9,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,670 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1993; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W-670-6A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RWL Rawlins WY at 11:15 pm
- Destination: BIL Billings MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 800 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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 N134Q 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.