- Date
- October 12, 1996, 14:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place
- Big Bear City, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N11481Waco QCF
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 30, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19961012032059A
- Case key
- 29664
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's improper response to a perceived in-flight emergency by abruptly retarding the throttle and failing to properly flare the airplane during the aborted takeoff. The pilot's improper perception of the source of smoke was a related factor.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he initiated a takeoff roll in his 1931, open cockpit, wood and fabric airplane. The airplane had accelerated and climbed to about 20 feet above the runway, when the pilot smelled smoke in the cockpit. He abruptly retarded the engine power to terminate the flight. The airplane developed a high sink rate and touched down hard, and the right main landing gear collapsed. The pilot further reported that he subsequently determined that the aroma of 'smoke in the cockpit' was produced by persons burning debris near the airport.
Factual narrative
On October 12, 1996, at 1445 hours Pacific daylight time, a Waco QCF, N11481, operated by Branin Air Service, Inc., Corona, California, touched down hard on runway 26 at the Big Bear City Airport, Big Bear City, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. Neither the private pilot nor the passenger was injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
According to the pilot, he applied engine power to his 1931 vintage open cockpit wood and fabric airplane and became airborne. Upon climbing to 20 feet above the runway, he smelled smoke in the cockpit and immediately retarded the throttle. The airplane touched down hard on the runway, and the right main landing gear collapsed. The pilot further reported that he subsequently determined that the aroma of "smoke in the cockpit" was produced by persons burning debris near the airport.
The pilot additionally reported that had he not rushed and abruptly retarded the power, the airplane's high sink rate would not have developed. This could have prevented the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N11481
- Reported as
- Waco QCF
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 3561
- Airframe hours
- 2,177
- Engine
- Continental W-670, 220 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Barry F. Branin
- Registered owner
- Branin Air Service, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 3, 1995 · 14 hours before
- Departed
- L35
- Destination
- L66 · Corona, CA
- Airport
- L35 · Big Bear City, runway 26, 5,850 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 57
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Expired
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 1,847 total · 535 in this make and model · 1,789 as pilot in command · 22 in the last 90 days · 18 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- L35
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.