What happened
The aircraft touched down on Runway 6 during the arrival phase of flight under dark nighttime conditions. The pilot reported that the airspeed indicator read 85 knots as the aircraft passed over the runway threshold numbers. Following a normal landing rollout, he applied both brakes to slow the aircraft.
Immediately upon brake application, the aircraft began a sharp right turn, behaving as if the wheels had locked. The pilot attempted to correct by releasing the brakes and applying left rudder along with left brake pressure, but these inputs produced no response. The aircraft continued to skid sideways across the pavement.
The skid marks indicated that the loss of directional control began approximately 1,900 feet from the approach end of the 2,580-foot runway. Measurements of three distinct skid marks on the runway surface showed the plane slid 272 feet while angled between 35 and 40 degrees relative to the runway heading.
After leaving the paved surface, the aircraft continued its sideways slide for an additional 262 feet before striking two parked aircraft: a Piper PA-28 with registration N4842L and a Grumman American AA-5 with registration N5462L.
An investigation revealed that the passenger, who was a student pilot seated in the co-pilot's position, admitted to applying the brakes on his side of the cockpit when he noticed the aircraft departing the runway. This unauthorized input coincided with the onset of the skid.
The investigation
Investigators examined the physical evidence at the scene, specifically focusing on the tire marks left on the runway and the surrounding terrain. The length and angle of the skid marks were measured to reconstruct the aircraft's path during the loss of control. The admission from the student pilot provided the primary explanation for the sudden brake application that initiated the incident.
Findings
The sequence of events was triggered by the student pilot applying the brakes while the aircraft was still on the runway. This action caused the aircraft to skid off the right side of the runway, resulting in a collision with two other parked aircraft.