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Atlas / NTSB / DEN89LA201

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event DEN89LA201

1989-08-27 WATKINS, Colorado, United States Airport · FTG None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N2369Q

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

WACO UPF-7

Year of manufacture

1940 · 49 years old at event

Engine

P&W R-985 SERIES (450 hp)

Seats / Engines

2 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19780327

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A2226C

Registrant of record

FRANKLIN KYLE A

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

FAILURE OF THE LEFT BRAKE ASSEMBLY, AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL BY THE PILOT.

Factual narrative

THE PLT WAS TAKING PART IN AN AIRSHOW WITH A PERSON STANDING ON THE LEFT WING. THE PLT SAID THAT WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED DURING LANDING ROLL, THE RIGHT BRAKE OPERATED PROPERLY, BUT THE LEFT BRAKE FAILED. THE PLANE THEN TURNED RIGHT AND DEPARTED THE RUNWAY, RESULTING IN A GROUND LOOP. THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE GROUND AND BOTH LEFT WINGS WERE BENT. THE PERSON, WHO WAS STANDING ON THE LEFT LOWER WING, WAS THROWN CLEAR. A POST-ACDNT EXAM REVEALED THAT 3 OF THE 4 BRAKE PADS WERE MISSING FROM THE LEFT BRAKE. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1989_DEN89LA201.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.