On August 8, 1982, a Bellanca 8KCAB (registration N2502Z) operated by Fred Morris was involved in an aviation accident near Hanover, NJ. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inability to maintain directional control due to a right brake failure during landing, which resulted in the aircraft veering off the runway and nosing over. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot experienced a right brake failure during a night landing, causing the aircraft to veer off the runway and nose over after the right wing struck the ground.
What happened
The accident occurred at night while the pilot was attempting to land the aircraft. Upon touchdown approximately midway along the runway, the right wheel brake failed to function. In an effort to maintain directional control and bring the aircraft to a stop, the pilot applied a combination of left brake pressure and right rudder input.
Despite these corrective actions, the aircraft began to veer toward the left side of the paved surface. As the plane departed the runway environment, the right main landing gear wheel dug into the soft ground or terrain adjacent to the pavement. This sudden resistance caused the right wing to strike the ground, leading to a nose-over attitude where the aircraft came to rest on its nose.
The investigation
The pilot provided a statement regarding the sequence of events during the landing roll. He confirmed that the failure was isolated to the right brake system immediately after touchdown. The subsequent loss of directional control and structural damage were direct consequences of the brake malfunction and the resulting deviation from the runway centerline.
Probable cause
The pilot's inability to maintain directional control due to a right brake failure during landing, which resulted in the aircraft veering off the runway and nosing over.