Waco QCF-2 accident near Bend, Oregon, September 14, 2009
On September 14, 2009 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Waco QCF-2, registered N11241, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Bend, Oregon (Bend 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
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of experience in the make and model airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 14, 2009 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Bend, Oregon · Bend Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Waco QCF-2 · all QCF-2s on the register
- Registration
- N11241 · registry record · serial 3453
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during landing a gust of wind struck the tail and the airplane yawed to the right as it settled on the runway. The pilot stated that he instinctively applied left rudder and toe brake action to stop the yaw; however, the airplane veered off the runway surface. The left main landing gear collapsed and the left wing contacted the ground, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot reported that the airplane has a unique braking system in that the brakes are controlled through the throttle lever instead of the traditional toe brake on the rudder pedals. The pilot reported that he had accumulated approximately 1.5 hours in this make and model airplane at the time of the accident. There was no report of a mechanical failure or malfunction that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience w/ equipment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane
- Flight time: 5,500 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W-670 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Woods Brothers Aviation Inc
The flight
- Departed from: 4S2 Hood River OR at 2:30 pm
- Destination: BDN Bend OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 5,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from BDN, 96 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.