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ERA24LA125

2024-02-24 · Atlanta, Georgia, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport PDK

Current FAA registration · N30169

Make / Model
WACO UPF-7
Year of manufacture
1941 · 83 years old at event
Engine
CONT MOTOR W670 SERIES (250 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19911024
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A32655

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing in gusting crosswind conditions.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped biplane had previously performed three uneventful full stop taxi back landings to runway 34. After takeoff the pilot remained in the airport traffic pattern for the fourth landing with the reported wind from 300° at 18 knots, gusting to 31 knots. While slowing after touchdown the airplane began drifting to the left. He applied corrective control inputs, but the airplane departed the runway and collided with a taxiway sign resulting in substantial damage to the lower left wing. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained
  • — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2024_ERA24LA125.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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