Waco Classic YMF-5 N801TS

Summary

On 14 August 2007 at about 20:15 local time, a Waco Classic YMF-5 registered N801TS, operated by Thomas Carl Schneider, was involved in an accident near Nantucket, Massachusetts, 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

14 August 2007 at 20:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Nantucket, Massachusetts, United States

Nearest airport

Nantucket Memorial Airport (ACK)

Coordinates

41.2519, -70.0561

Aircraft

Waco Classic YMF-5

Registration

N801TS

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Thomas Carl Schneider

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Nantucket → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL07CA114

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff roll, which resulted in an on ground collision with an airport sign.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, "with a crosswind at 10+ knots, I attempted a take-off on runway 15. After the tail wheel had lifted but before take-off, a [wind] gust suddenly drove the aircraft towards the right edge of the runway. Rather then incur a ground loop for the amount of correction necessary, I decelerated straight ahead. Where upon I hit what I later found out was a large runway sign off the side of the runway in the grassy area." The pilot further stated that, "I should have requested runway 6, which was almost aligned with the wind." Additionally, the pilot reported no mechanical malfunction or failure with the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar and left main strut.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.