What happened
Following touchdown on the runway, the pilot experienced a failure of the left brake, which led to a loss of directional control. The aircraft subsequently veered off the runway surface and collided with a barbed wire fence. There were no injuries reported.
The investigation
An FAA-certified airframe and powerplant mechanic, who owned an aircraft wreckage retrieval firm, was present at the airport during the accident. At the direction of the Safety Board, this individual performed an examination of the braking system within 10 minutes of the event.
The inspection revealed that the right brake disk was hot to the touch, whereas the left brake disk remained cold. Furthermore, the left brake pedal was found to be stiff and unresponsive to applied pressure, and the corresponding left brake calipers would not move. A detailed examination of the braking system could not be completed because the aircraft owner moved and repaired the aircraft prior to further investigation.