What happened
The accident occurred at a private airport in Concord, North Carolina, which features a unidirectional runway strip with high obstructions on both ends. Operational requirements, including obstacles, runway slope, and noise abatement procedures, mandated that Runway 4 be used for all landings. At the time of the incident, weather conditions in Charlotte, North Carolina, indicated a wind from 220 degrees at 16 knots, gusting to 27 knots.
During the arrival phase, the final approach was flown at an airspeed of 100 mph. A witness observed the aircraft touch down approximately 1,350 feet from the approach end of the runway. The aircraft bounced two or three times upon initial contact. Unable to bring the aircraft to a halt within the remaining runway length, the pilot intentionally ground-looped the aircraft after traveling beyond the departure end.
The pilot reported that directional control was maintained using rudder and differential power because the left brake was not functioning sufficiently. Skid marks were discovered starting approximately 2,000 feet from the approach end of the runway. Calculations determined that the required stopping distance for the prevailing conditions was 2,711 feet, while the aircraft had touched down with only about 2,050 feet remaining.
The investigation
Post-accident examination of the aircraft revealed mechanical issues contributing to the outcome. When inspected after the event, the brake pedals felt spongy to the touch. Further inspection identified that the left brake pad was discolored blue, indicating overheating or failure.