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NTSB Report

August 25, 2005 · Piper PA-28-236 · N4366K

San Martin, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 25, 2005
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
San Martin, CA
Aircraft
Piper PA-28-236
Tail Number
N4366K
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX05CA280

The airplane veered off the left side of the runway and struck trees during the landing rollout. The pilot said that the flight and landing were uneventful, but when he applied brake pressure, the right brake did not have any pressure. The pilot attempted to abort the landing roll, but ran out of runway. Near the end of the runway, the pilot again applied brake pressure and veered off the left side of the runway impacting trees. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector responded to the accident site along with a mechanic and they tested the brake system. According to the inspector, the brakes had equal pressure, but were both spongy and when depressed went to their stops. No leaks were noted in the brake system. According to the pilot, the last annual inspection took place in May 2005 and no anomalies with the airplane were noted since the annual.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll. A factor in the accident was the spongy brakes.

Full Narrative

On August 25, 2005, at 1430 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-236, N4366K, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees after veering off runway 14 at the South County Airport, San Martin, California. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the auspices of 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight that originated from Palm Springs, California, at 1200. During a telephone interview with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator, the pilot said the flight and landing on runway 14 (3,100 feet long and 75 feet wide) were uneventful. The airplane was rolling down the runway around 15-20 knots when he applied brakes to slow down. The airplane then veered to the left, exiting the runway surface, and impacting trees. The pilot believed the right brake failed. According to the pilot's written statement, he attempted to stop the airplane during the landing roll out to exit on the first taxiway; however, when he applied the brakes he felt no brake pressure on the right side. As the airplane veered to the left, he applied right rudder pressure and power to abort the landing. The airplane proceeded down the runway; however, the pilot reduced the power to idle, as there was not a lot of remaining runway. The pilot again touched the brakes and the airplane veered left off the runway. The nose landing gear was collapsed aft, the wing tip fairings were broken off, the left wing was pushed aft, and the engine firewall was crumpled. According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident site, he and a mechanic tested the brake system. According to the inspector the brakes had equal pressure, but were both spongy, and when depressed, went to their stops. No leaks were noted in the brake system. According to the pilot, the last annual inspection took place in May 2005, and no anomalies with the airplane were noted since the annual.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:30 PDT
Nearest AirportSouth County Airport (0nm)
Runway14
Runway Length3100 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-28-236
Tail NumberN4366K
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-540 · Reciprocating · 235
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 49 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind180° @ 8 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data