Waco QCF N11481

Summary

On 12 October 1996 at about 21:45 local time, a Waco QCF registered N11481, operated by Barry F. Branin, was involved in an accident near Big Bear City, California, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 October 1996 at 21:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Big Bear City, California, United States

Nearest airport

Big Bear City (L35)

Coordinates

34.2600, -116.8390

Aircraft

Waco QCF

Registration

N11481

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Barry F. Branin

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Corona

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX97LA016

Nobody was injured.

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.