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WPR15CA074

2015-01-03 · San Luis Obispo, California, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport SBP

Current FAA registration · N171L

Make / Model
WACO CLASSIC AIRCRAFT YMF-F5C
Year of manufacture
2013 · 2 years old at event
Engine
JACOBS R-755A2M (300 hp)
Seats / Engines
3 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20130322
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A11DDE

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The accidental application of the brakes by the passenger during landing roll which resulted in the airplane nosing over.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that while rolling out about 30 to 40 mph in the tailwheel equipped airplane for the full stop landing, the airplane made a sudden stop and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the aft fuselage and tail section during the landing sequence. The passenger reported in a written statement that he accidentally applied the brakes during the landing roll. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that while rolling out about 30 to 40 mph in the tailwheel equipped airplane for the full stop landing, the airplane made a sudden stop and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the aft fuselage and tail section during the landing sequence. The passenger reported in a written statement that he accidentally applied the brakes during the landing roll. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with 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.

  • C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Unneccessary action-Passenger - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2015_WPR15CA074.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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