# NTSB LAX89LA166: Waco QCF, N12428, Hollbrook, AZ, April 21, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 20, 1989, 17:31 local (Apr 21, 1989, 00:31 UTC)
- Place: Hollbrook, AZ
- Coordinates: 34.939678, -110.090385 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9397&lon=-110.0904&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 22, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26384
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89LA166
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26384/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89LA166

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DUE TO GUSTING WIND CONDITIONS. THE PILOT DID NOT ADEQUATELY CORRECT THE SITUATION BEFORE THE AIRPLANE TRAVELED INTO SOFT TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING A LANDING, THE AIRPLANE MADE A THREE POINT TOUCHDOWN.A GUST OF WIND CAUGHT THE AIRPLANE WHICH BECAME AIRBORNE. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RELAND, HOWEVER, THE LANDING WAS HARD AND THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED. THE PILOT ADDED FULL POWER WHEN THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO GROUND LOOP. UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL, THE AIRPLANE EXITED THE RUNWAY INTO A SANDY AREA. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL DIFFICULTIES WITH THE AIRPLANE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N12428](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N12428), registered now, S/N 3569, built 1940 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WACO QCF
- Registry model: [Waco QCF](https://openairdocs.org/model/waco-qcf) (registry code 9600408) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental W670 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-w670-series) (registry code 17018, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 3569
- Engines: CONTINENTAL W-670-6A 220 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Windstar Aviation Corp
- Registered owner: Windstar Aviation Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 11, 1989, 7 hours before
- Departed: CAREFREE, AZ
- Destination: P14, HOLLBROOK, AZ
- Airport: P14, Hollbrook, runway 21, 6,700 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 2,470 total, 72 in this make and model, 322 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 225° at 25 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19890420009469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890420009469A), Apr 20, 1989: Waco QCF, Holbrook, AZ, Substantial damage. Became airborne on a gust after landing. Bounced, lost control and cartwheeled off side off runway. Too much wind.

## Other investigations on N12428 (2)

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 FTW96FA234](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96FA234), Jun 1, 1996: Waco QCF (N12428), Bartlesville, OK, destroyed, 4 fatal. Probable cause: The failure of each pilot-in-command to maintain visual lookout. Factors were: the lack of each pilot-in-command obtaining/maintaining communication with the control tower, and inadequate lookout by…
- [NTSB FTW71DQG72](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW71DQG72), May 26, 1971: Waco QCF-2 (N12428), Wink, TX, substantial damage

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.

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