NTSB ATL84LA188 — 1984-05-25 · DANVILLE, Virginia, United States

Current FAA registration · N11254

Make / Model: WACO RNF
Year of manufacture: 1931 · 53 years old at event
Engine: WARNER SCARAB SERIES (125 hp)
Seats / Engines: 3 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19811006
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A036C5

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N11254 Waco RNF Minor

Factual narrative

THE PILOT WAS EN ROUTE TO NJ WHEN THE ENG BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. HE DIVERTED TO DANVILLE, VA, AND LANDED. DURING THE SUBSEQUENT TAKEOFF THE ENG BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH, THEN QUIT AT AN ALT OF APRX 700 FEET. THE PILOT TURNED THE ACFT AND OVER FLEW THE DEPARTURE RWY TO AVOID OVERFLYING BUILDINGS ON THE DOWNWIND LEG. THE PILOT STATED THAT 'FINAL APPROACH TURN TO FINAL LEG IS WHERE THE WING DROPPED AND THE ACFT STALLED FROM APRX 100 TO 200 FEET.' EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT ENG AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED SEVERAL STUCK AND SEIZED EXHAUST VALVES. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A LUBRICANT AROUND THE VALVE GUIDES. THE GUIDES MUST BE LUBRICATED ON A PERIOD BASIS BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1984_ATL84LA188.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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