Accident Description
A pilot reported that after a normal approach with two notches of flaps, the airplane's brakes failed upon touchdown. The pilot stated that when he pulled the brake handle after landing, it came all the way back, indicating a loss of braking capability. Despite pumping the handle several times, the pilot could not slow the airplane. He decided against aborting the landing due to his position far down the runway and close to 25-foot trees at the departure end. The airplane subsequently overran the 300-foot grass overrun area and collided with a tree stump and bushes.
Pilot's Report
The pilot described the approach as normal. After touchdown on the 2,580-foot asphalt runway, the brake handle movement revealed the failure. The runway sloped downhill in the direction of landing. No tire skid marks were found on the freshly sealed surface, confirming the lack of braking action.
Postaccident Findings
A postaccident examination of the airplane determined that the brake fluid reservoir was empty. Review of maintenance records showed that the brake system had been serviced during the last annual inspection, which was completed 12 flight hours prior to the accident. No other anomalies were reported.