Accident Overview
On May 14, 2010, at about 1730 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 180, registration N3142C, experienced a runway excursion at Owyhee Reservoir State Airport near Caldwell, Idaho. The owner/pilot was operating the airplane under 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot was not injured, and one passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing from impact forces.
Flight Details
The cross-country personal flight departed Caldwell about 1700 with a planned destination of Owyhee. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported landing on runway 13 with a direct left crosswind and a steady half windsock deflection. The airplane bounced once before settling onto the runway. He then reduced flaps from two notches to one notch. During the landing roll, he had the ailerons deflected into the wind. He stated that the landing conditions required light right rudder and light right braking.
Brake Malfunction
The pilot reported little or no response to the initial right brake application. He applied more pressure, and the brake pedal went all the way to the cabin floor with no braking action. He pumped the brake several times, but they did not activate.
Runway Excursion
The airplane veered toward the side of the runway. The pilot stated that the airplane was fully loaded, and he did not want to risk aborting the landing at that point and possibly entering the lake along the runway's left side. He had been to this airport many times and indicated he was past his preplanned go/no-go abort point for the conditions encountered.
The airplane departed the left side of the runway surface into brush and rough terrain. It collided with one ditch parallel to the runway and bounced; the right main landing gear collapsed on ground contact. The airplane bounced across a second ditch and came down on the right wing, sliding another 30 feet before stopping.
Preflight and Damage
The pilot stated that there were no signs of brake fluid leakage during preflight inspection on the brake assembly or hangar floor. The right brake functioned normally during taxi and departure. He noted that although the wreckage was on top of the right main landing gear, the right tire was inflated, and the brake caliper was coated in brake fluid immediately after he exited the airplane. Due to the damage, investigators were unable to determine if a brake anomaly existed prior to the accident and, if so, why the malfunction occurred.