Waco Classic Aircraft YMF F5C accident near San Luis Obispo, California, January 3, 2015
On January 3, 2015 at about 9:51 pm local time, a 2013 Waco Classic Aircraft YMF F5C, registered N171L, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near San Luis Obispo, California (San Luis County Rgnl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The accidental application of the brakes by the passenger during landing roll which resulted in the airplane nosing over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 3, 2015 · about 9:51 pm local time
- Place
- San Luis Obispo, California · San Luis County Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Waco Classic Aircraft YMF F5C NO SERIES, built 2013 · all YMF F5Cs on the register
- Registration
- N171L · registry record · serial F5C-8-134
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while rolling out about 30 to 40 mph in the tailwheel equipped airplane for the full stop landing, the airplane made a sudden stop and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the aft fuselage and tail section during the landing sequence. The passenger reported in a written statement that he accidentally applied the brakes during the landing roll. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Unneccessary action › Passenger
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,084 hours in all; 1,462 in this make and model; 60.7 in the last 90 days; 38.2 in the last 30 days; 3,730 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 174 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs R-755A2M (piston); 1,850 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OXR Oxnard CA at 8:00 pm
- Destination: SBP San Luis Obispo CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 6,100 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from KSBP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
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.