On August 11, 1996, a Champion 7ECA (registration N2598G) operated by Performance Aviation, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Ashland, VA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a veer off the runway and subsequent nose-over. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
The aircraft veered off the runway during landing roll due to apparent brake sticking, resulting in a nose-over incident with no mechanical defects found post-accident.
What happened
The pilot reported that the approach and subsequent landing proceeded without incident. However, during the initial phase of the ground roll, the brakes appeared to stick unexpectedly. This anomaly caused the airplane to veer off the right side of the runway and subsequently nose over in a grassy area adjacent to the airfield.
The investigation
Postaccident examination of the aircraft revealed that it rolled freely on its wheels, both forward and backward, with no evidence of brake drag. Investigators found no preimpact mechanical anomalies that could explain the reported brake sticking.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a veer off the runway and subsequent nose-over.