# Accident 20160702011769A: Waco YMF-F5C, Austin, TX, July 2, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 2, 2016, 16:06 local time
- Place: Austin, TX
- Airport: Bergstrom
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.4131° N, 97.9072° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4131&lon=-97.9072&mi=10
- Aircraft: N30AB, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N30AB-2017-09-25) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Waco Classic YMF-F5C (registry code 9600425, https://openairdocs.org/model/waco-classic-ymf-f5c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Jacobs R-755A2M (registry code 35020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/jacobs-r-755a2m) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WACO YMF-F5C
- Reported engine: JACOBS R-755A2M
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 4,200 total, 250 in this make and model, 90 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN16LA254](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA254) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160702011769A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

PILOT WAS ON AN AIR TOUR FLIGHT WITH TWO PASSENGERS ON BOARD APPROXIMATELY 1500 FT MSL OVER LAKE TRAVIS IN AUSTIN TEXAS. AIRCRAFT ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN CAME BACK TO LIFE. PILOT ANALIZED COCKPIT INSTRUMENTS AND FOUND ALL NORMAL. ENGINE SPUTTERED AGAIN AND LOST RPM. AIRCRAFT LOST ALTITUDE AND PILOT ULTIMATELY MADE THE DECISION TO DITCH AIRCRAFT INTO LAKE. UPON DITCHING, AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER AND SANK WITH ALL THREE OCCUPANTS IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. BOTH PASSENGERS AND PILOT ESCAPED AND WERE RESCUED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY FROM BOATS AND JET SKIS NEARBY.

AIRCRAFT RESTED ON BOTTOM OF LAKE APPROXIMATELY 45 FEET DEEP ABOUT 100 YARDS FROM SHORE. AIRCRAFT WAS RETRIEVED 5 DAYS LATER BY A LOCAL WRECKAGE RETRIEVAL COMPANY. FAA WAS PRESENT DURING RETRIEVAL BUT COULD NOT BOARD THE AIRCRAFT TO INSPECT COCKPIT AREA.

IT WAS DETERMINED FROM PILOTS STATEMENT AIRCRAFT FUEL LOAD WAS APPROXIMATELY 37 GALLONS ON BOARD AT TIME OF CRASH HOWEVER PILOT FAILED TO CONFIRM FUEL SELECTOR WAS SET TO PROPER POSITION. PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN BY DIVERS REVEALED RIGHT FUEL SELECTOR HANDLE WAS IN THE CLOSED POSITION AT TIME AIRCRAFT WAS RETRIEVED. NTSB HAS NOT DETERMINED OR CONCLUDED ACTUAL CAUSE OF ENGINE FAILURE. AIRCRAFT WAS MOVED TO AIR SALVAGE OF DALLAS FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. THIS REPORT WILL BE AMENDED UPON COMPLETION OF ENGINE ANALYSIS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN16LA254](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA254), Jul 2, 2016: Waco YMF-F5C (N30AB), Austin, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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