What happened
A pilot with 118 total flight hours, including less than 16 hours in this specific aircraft type, departed on a local flight. The flight included two touch-and-go landings before the pilot climbed to a higher, cooler altitude and returned to the airfield for a full stop landing.
During the landing roll, the pilot was unable to achieve effective braking. As a result, the aircraft rolled off the upwind end of the runway, proceeded down an embankment, and came to rest in a ditch. There were no injuries reported in the accident.
The investigation
The aircraft was equipped with a closed hydraulic brake system that is sensitive to temperature changes. A significant drop in temperature had occurred over the several days preceding the flight. An experienced pilot and mechanic noted that the braking system can become ineffective if the hydraulic fluid level is not optimal and the system is subjected to significant cold soaking.
An FAA inspector examined the brakes following the accident. While the examination was conducted in a heated hangar, the inspection revealed no mechanical malfunction within the braking system.