What happened
On June 21, 2023, at approximately 14:47 CDT, a Cessna 175, registration N9354B, was involved in an accident near Mesquite, Texas. The aircraft was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 for personal use.
Following touchdown on the runway, the aircraft veered to the left and exited the paved surface, eventually impacting a precision approach path indicator (PAPI) light. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and the right wing. The pilot and passenger were not injured.
Weather conditions at the time were Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) with a visibility of 5 statute miles and winds from 090 degrees at 7 knots.
The investigation
A runway inspection identified a continuous black tire mark originating near the runway centerline, which aligned with the position of the left main gear upon landing. This mark ended at the runway edge, where a new tire impression began and continued toward the final wreckage location.
Post-accident examination of the left wheel brake revealed that the brake caliper pins were corroded. This corrosion caused the caliper to become wedged, preventing it from free-floating as intended. The pilot noted that while the aircraft is normally hangared in Texas, it had recently been stored outdoors in Alaska for backcountry flying following its last annual inspection.