On June 27, 1983, a Cessna 421A (registration N2222Q) was involved in an aviation accident near Forth Worth, TX. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inability to stop the aircraft due to brake failure, which showed excessive wear and hot spots during post-accident examination. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft overran the end of a runway and struck a fence and septic tank complex after the pilot reported brake failure during landing.
What happened
The aircraft departed from the end of the runway and collided with a fence and a septic tank complex. The pilot stated that he attempted to use the brakes but was unsuccessful in stopping the plane. The aircraft had previously landed on Runway 17, which is 3500 feet long. Despite the wind being reported from 320 degrees at 5 knots, the aircraft stopped 200 feet south of the runway threshold.
The investigation
The brakes were examined after the accident. The brake discs showed excessive wear and hot spots. The aircraft had an annual inspection on May 5, 1983.
Findings
The pilot had a total of 7 hours of pilot-in-command time in this type of aircraft. The brake failure was the primary cause of the overrun.
Probable cause
The pilot's inability to stop the aircraft due to brake failure, which showed excessive wear and hot spots during post-accident examination.