Waco UPF7 N32162

Summary

On 23 July 2000 at about 17:25 local time, a Waco UPF7 registered N32162 was involved in an accident near Warrenton, Virginia, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 July 2000 at 17:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Warrenton, Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Flying Circus Airport (3VA3)

Coordinates

38.5701, -77.7597

Aircraft

Waco UPF7

Registration

N32162

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD00LA066

Nobody was injured.

the loss of engine power over unsuitable terrain due to an inoperative magneto.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The open-cockpit biplane departed on its seventh takeoff of the day from the turf runway at close to its maximum allowable gross weight. The pilot reported that the takeoff roll was sluggish, and that the airplane would not climb after liftoff. The pilot aborted the takeoff; the airplane touched down, overran the airport boundary into a soybean field and trees. A witness stated that during the takeoff, 'It sounded like it was missing and carrying on.' After the accident, a loaner propeller was installed; the engine started immediately, and ran smoothly without interruption. However, the engine would not accelerate to full operating RPM, and magneto checks produced intermittent results. The engine was stopped and the engine controls and fuel and air filters were inspected. The engine was restarted and accelerated to 1,000 rpm. The magneto switch was placed on the left only, and the engine was accelerated to 1,600 rpm smoothly and without interruption. Engine power was reduced to 1,000 rpm and the magneto switch was selected to the right magneto. The engine would not accelerate with the application of throttle and engine power would randomly start and stop.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.