Classic Aircraft Corp. WACO YMF accident near Banning, California, December 1, 2001
On December 1, 2001 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Classic Aircraft Corp. WACO YMF, registered N31BN, was substantially damaged in an accident near Banning, California (Banning Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
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.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 1, 2001 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Banning, California · Banning Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Classic Aircraft Corp. WACO YMF
- Registration
- N31BN · registry record · serial F50-067
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,388 hours in all; 223 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 1,266 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 14, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 26, 2001; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,850 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs R755-B2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SBD San Bernardino CA at 8:00 pm
- Destination: L12 Redlands CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 5,260 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from PSP, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.