# NTSB LAX97LA016: Waco QCF, N11481, Big Bear City, CA, October 12, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 12, 1996, 14:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Big Bear City, CA - Coordinates: 34.260002, -116.839012 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2600&lon=-116.8390&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29664 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA016 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29664/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA016 ## 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, takeoff - initial climb - weather condition - haze/smoke - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor) - emergency procedure - initiated, pilot in command - aborted takeoff - performed, pilot in command - Hard landing, takeoff - aborted - throttle/power control - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - flare - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - Gear collapsed, takeoff - aborted - landing gear,main gear - overload ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N11481), registered now, S/N 3561, built 1931 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Waco QCF - Registry model: [Waco QCF](https://openairdocs.org/model/waco-qcf) (registry code 9600408) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental R670-SERIES series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-r670-series-series) (registry code 17016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3561 - Airframe hours: 2177 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19961012032059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961012032059A), Oct 12, 1996: Waco QCF, Big Bear, CA, Substantial damage. On liftoff beleived smoke in open cockpit. Aborted. Landed hard. Folded right main gear. Debris burn near airport. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.