Waco ASO N11253

Summary

On 9 April 2004 at about 23:23 local time, a Waco ASO registered N11253 was involved in an accident near Lexington, Kentucky, United States. One person was 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

9 April 2004 at 23:23

Classification

Accident

Location

Lexington, Kentucky, United States

Nearest airport

Blue Grass Airport (LEX)

Coordinates

38.0369, -84.6053

Aircraft

Waco ASO

Registration

N11253

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lexington → Lexington

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD04CA015

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate remedial action to wake turbulence. A factor was the pilot's failure to recognize that the takeoff conditions were conducive to wake turbulence.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot initiated his takeoff roll from a runway position where a transport airplane had previously touched down. When the pilot began the takeoff roll, the transport airplane had just cleared the runway. During the takeoff roll, airplane's tail elevation was normal until it "spontaneously" went higher. The pilot lowered the tail; however, it again went higher, and the propeller hit the runway. The pilot again tried to lower the tail, but it went higher still, with a "heavier contact of the propeller," and the airplane then nosed over. The pilot also noted that there "seemed to be some lateral turbulence during the takeoff." At the time of the accident, there was a 3-knot, quartering tailwind. According to FAA Advisory Circular 90-23F, "Aircraft Wake Turbulence," a light quartering tailwind "requires maximum caution." In addition, "Whether or not a warning or information has been given, the pilot is expected to adjust aircraft operations and flight path as necessary to preclude serious wake encounters."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.