Classic WACO YMF N31BN

Summary

On 1 December 2001 at about 19:30 local time, a Classic WACO YMF registered N31BN was involved in an accident near Banning, California, United States. One person was 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

1 December 2001 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Banning, California, United States

Nearest airport

Banning Municipal (BNG)

Coordinates

33.2517, -117.5300

Aircraft

Classic WACO YMF

Registration

N31BN

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

San Bernardino → Redlands

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX02LA035

Nobody was injured.

a loss of engine power due to a crack in the carburetor float and leaking portions of the carburetor that resulted in an overly rich mixture.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane lost power on final approach for landing and impacted rocky terrain about 1/4 mile from the approach end of the runway. The pilot stated that he was flying to local airports. The plan was to do a touch-and-go landing and then depart. He noted no discrepancies until the second leg of the flight when he was on final. He had setup for landing, which included reducing power and adding carburetor heat. On final he smelled fuel. He noted that an existing headwind had put the airplane farther back on the approach than he had expected, and he realized that he was not going to make the runway. The pilot advanced the throttle, but did not receive a corresponding power output from the engine. The airplane came to rest in rocky terrain. Later examination of the carburetor float revealed that it was cracked and full of fuel. Furthermore, fuel was leaking around the mixture control, accelerator pump, and in the idle tube area of the carburetor.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.