Accident Overview
On July 21, 2012, at approximately 1120 central daylight time, a Piper PA-22-150, registration N4749A, experienced a runway excursion while landing on runway 18 at Augusta Municipal Airport (3AU) in Augusta, Kansas. The aircraft, operated under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight, sustained substantial damage. The pilot and sole passenger received minor injuries.
Flight Details
The flight originated from 3AU around 1115 and remained in the airport traffic pattern before returning for a full stop landing. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that the preflight run-up was uneventful and the brakes functioned normally at that time.
Landing and Runway Excursion
According to the pilot, the approach and landing were normal. However, during the landing rollout, the brakes became completely ineffective. As the aircraft approached the end of the 4,201-foot-long runway, the pilot determined that the speed was too high to safely turn onto the taxiway and elected to overrun the runway. The airplane subsequently encountered a concrete culvert.
Postaccident Examination
An examination conducted by Federal Aviation Administration inspectors was inconclusive regarding the brake system. No anomalies consistent with a brake system failure were identified. However, the main landing gear tires did not exhibit flat spots indicative of skidding, and no skid marks corresponding to the accident airplane were observed on the runway pavement.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The airplane was equipped with the original handbrake; no toe brakes were installed. The pilot reported a total flight time of 136 hours, with 96 hours in Piper PA-22-150 airplanes.