On November 10, 2004, a Champion 7EC (registration N4306C) was involved in an aviation accident near Clarksburg, WV. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inability to operate the airplane's brake pedals which resulted in the loss of aircraft control. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
While taxiing, a pilot reported to the tower controller that he could not find the brakes. The aircraft continued straight off the taxiway end, down a 60-foot embankment, and struck rocks in a drainage ditch.
Incident Description
While taxiing the airplane, the pilot communicated to the tower controller that he was unable to find the brakes. Consequently, the airplane did not turn right as intended toward the runway. Instead, it continued straight, departing the end of the taxiway. The aircraft then traversed a 60-foot embankment and ultimately collided with rocks at the bottom of a drainage ditch.
Examination Findings
Following the incident, a post-accident examination of the airplane was conducted. The inspection revealed that the right main landing gear had been bent upward underneath the fuselage. However, no visible damage was noted on the braking system components. The left main landing gear brake was tested and operated normally. The brake pedal assembly was observed to be 'rather small' in size. Additionally, the brake pedals were configured to be operated by the pilot's heels, rather than the more standard design of toe brakes.