Summary
On April 27, 1994, a Waco UPF-7 (N134Q) was involved in an accident near Lander, WY. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: POOR IN-FLIGHT PLANNING DECISION. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AND INADVERTENT VFR INTO IMC.
On April 26, 1994, at 1900 mountain daylight time, a Waco UPF-7, N134Q, collided with the terrain near Lander, Wyoming, during a personal flight. The flight encountered instrument meteorological conditions and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the airline transport pilot received minor injuries. The flight had originated from Rawlins, Wyoming, on April 26, 1994, at 1715, and was en route to Billings, Montana.
The pilot reported that he was following a highway in visual meteorological conditions. As the flight approached the mountains and rising terrain, the weather began to deteriorate and snow was falling. When the flight turned around a bend, the airplane encountered instrument meteorological conditions.
This accident is documented in NTSB report SEA94LA110. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N134Q.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
POOR IN-FLIGHT PLANNING DECISION. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AND INADVERTENT VFR INTO IMC.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On April 26, 1994, at 1900 mountain daylight time, a Waco UPF-7, N134Q, collided with the terrain near Lander, Wyoming, during a personal flight. The flight encountered instrument meteorological conditions and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the airline transport pilot received minor injuries. The flight had originated from Rawlins, Wyoming, on April 26, 1994, at 1715, and was en route to Billings, Montana.
The pilot reported that he was following a highway in visual meteorological conditions. As the flight approached the mountains and rising terrain, the weather began to deteriorate and snow was falling. When the flight turned around a bend, the airplane encountered instrument meteorological conditions. The pilot reported that he lost all ground reference in the whiteout condition and was unable to turn the airplane around due to the lack of terrain clearance. The pilot opted to descend in altitude and reduced power to the slowest possible airspeed. The pilot kept the wings level until the airplane collided with the terrain in an open field.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# SEA94LA110