N171L – WACO CLASSIC AIRCRAFT YMF F5C – 2015-01-03 NTSB Accident Report

On January 03, 2015, a Waco Classic Aircraft YMF F5C (N171L) was involved in an incident near San Luis Obispo, CA. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The accidental application of the brakes by the passenger during landing roll which resulted in the airplane nosing over.

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.

This incident is documented in NTSB report WPR15CA074. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N171L.