04/11/2003. Remarks by Roger Sword: "This 1941 aircraft has been based at the Prescott Municipal Airport, Arizona, USA, for the last several years. I first saw it at the Copperstate Fly-In at Casa Grande, Arizona.

This is my very favorite model, being the only one that graced, what we call, the "straight back" Waco. Unfortunately, on January 10, 2003, upon landing, it encountered a cross-tail wind (they called it a gust) and went off the runway and was extensively damaged.

I inquired with some friends several weeks later and found out what actually caused the accident. During roll-out, a tail gust caused the aircraft to veer left and the pilot naturally applied full right rudder. In doing so, and due to geometric conditions, he unknowingly applied left brake at the same time which over-powered the rudder. (The Waco has toe brakes) The aircraft then veered left and struck a "collapsible" runway sign.

The pilot was a certificated airline pilot flying the Waco for the first time. The owner was in the right seat. I don't have their names. Here the front page sidebar notice that appeared a few days later in the Prescott Daily Courier:

Rare plane crashes at Prescott Airport PRESCOTT -- Two people suffered minor injuries in an airplane crash Friday at the Prescott Airport.      Prescott Fire Department Captain Ralph Lucas said a 1941 Waco biplane crashed during the landing.      "It hit a runway sign while landing" he said, adding that airport officials closed the runway for about 4.5 hours.      The pilot and a passenger received treatment at the scene, he said.      The fire crews had to foam the entire aircraft because of a fuel leak, Lucas said, adding that the plane, which has a value of about $350,000, had extensive damage.      Lucas said that this plane is rare. "There are only four in the world," he said.

And here the preliminary NTSB report:

NTSB Identification: LAX03LA064
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, January 10, 2003 in Prescott, AZ
Aircraft: Waco SRE, registration: N1252W
Injuries: 2 Minor.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On January 10, 2003, at 1249 mountain standard time, a Waco SRE, N1252W, lost directional control on landing and struck a runway sign at the Prescott, Arizona, airport. The pilot was operating the borrowed airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The certificated airline transport pilot and one passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated at Prescott about 1215.

The pilot reported that during landing on runway 21L, the aircraft veered off the left side of the runway, struck a sign, and came to rest on its nose and right wing. The pilot further reported feeling the brakes "lock up" during the landing.

The aviation routine weather report (METAR) for Prescott indicated winds at the time of the accident were from 010°s at 6 knots.

(Andy Heins Collection)

Fortunately the aircraft was restored to flying condition by 2007."