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NYC05CA124

2005-07-24 · Leonardtown, Maryland, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport 2W6

Current FAA registration · N16227

Make / Model
WACO AQC-6
Year of manufacture
1936 · 69 years old at event
Engine
JACOBS L-6MB (330 hp)
Seats / Engines
5 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19550818
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A0FBDA

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind and his failure to maintain aircraft control while landing, which resulted in a nose over. A factor in this accident was the crosswind condition.

Factual narrative

On July 24, 2005, about 1630 eastern daylight time, a WACO AQC-6, was substantially damaged while landing at the St. Mary's Airport, Leonardtown, Maryland. The certificated commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane was landing on runway 11, a 4,150-foot-long, 75-foot-wide, asphalt runway. According to the pilot, the approach and touchdown were normal. Shortly after touchdown, the right wing began to rise, and the airplane began to swerve to the left. The pilot attempted to correct with aileron and rudder input; however, the right wing continued to rise, and the left wing struck the runway. The airplane then veered to the right, and nosed over. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions. Nor did the pilot report any. The pilot reported 4,246 hours of total flight experience, which included 33 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane. Winds reported at airport located about 8 miles east-southeast of the accident site, at 1555, were from 160 degrees at 5 knots. The pilot reported that the wind at the time of the accident was from 200 degrees at 5 knots. The airplane was landing on runway 11, a 4,150-foot-long, 75-foot-wide, asphalt runway. Shortly after touchdown, the right wing began to rise, and the airplane swerved to the left. The pilot attempted to correct with aileron and rudder input; however, the right wing continued to rise, and the left wing struck the runway. The airplane then veered to the right, and nosed over. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions. Winds reported at airport located about 8 miles east-southeast of the accident site, were from 160 degrees at 5 knots. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2005_NYC05CA124.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.