What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot landed long continued roll struck trees beyond departure end. Claims possible brake malfunction. (.4)the pilot landed a Piper PA-28-180 on a 1,900 foot long turf runway. A witness reported that the airplane touched down about 300 feet past the approach end of the runway. Before stopping, the airplane ran off the departure end of the runway into trees and was substantially damaged. An FAA inspector reported that an examination of the airplane revealed the brake reservoir was empty. The airplane had received an annual inspection on 7/2/97. The pilot reported that during previous operations, the brakes were spongy, but that he could remedy the problem by pumping the brakes several times. Interviews disclosed the pilot had not reported the spongy brake problem to the mechanic, and he continued to fly the airplane with defective brakes. (-23) aircraft impacted stand of trees at the end of runway 23, a 1900' grass strip at madison, Ohio. During the landing roll-out, the pilot reported he applied the brakes and had no brake pressure available. The pilot attempted to slow the aircraft down as much as possible. The wings took the ma jority of the impact force. Upon examination of the aircraft, only residual amount of hydraulic fluid was visible in the reservoir serving the brake system. The pilot stated that during previous operation of this aircraft, he had noted a sponginess in the brakes but it was remedied by pumping the brakes.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT LANDED LONG CONTINUED ROLL STRUCK TREES BEYOND DEPARTURE END. CLAIMS POSSIBLE BRAKE MALFUNCTION. (.4)THE PILOT LANDED A PIPER PA-28-180 ON A 1,900 FOOT LONG TURF RUNWAY. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 300 FEET PAST THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY. BEFORE STOPPING, THE AIRPLANE RAN OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY INTO TREES AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. AN FAA INSPECTOR REPORTED THAT AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THE BRAKE RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY. THE AIRPLANE HAD RECEIVED AN ANNUAL INSPECTION ON 7/2/97. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING PREVIOUS OPERATIONS, THE BRAKES WERE SPONGY, BUT THAT HE COULD REMEDY THE PROBLEM BY PUMPING THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES. INTERVIEWS DISCLOSED THE PILOT HAD NOT REPORTED THE SPONGY BRAKE PROBLEM TO THE MECHANIC, AND HE CONTINUED TO FLY THE AIRPLANE WITH DEFECTIVE BRAKES. (-23) AIRCRAFT IMPACTED STAND OF TREES AT THE END OF RUNWAY 23, A 1900' GRASS STRIP AT MADISON, OHIO. DURING THE LANDING ROLL-OUT, THE PILOT REPORTED HE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND HAD NO BRAKE PRESSURE AVAILABLE. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO SLOW THE AIRCRAFT DOWN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. THE WINGS TOOK THE MA JORITY OF THE IMPACT FORCE. UPON EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT, ONLY RESIDUAL AMOUNT OF HYDRAULIC FLUID WAS VISIBLE IN THE RESERVOIR SERVING THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING PREVIOUS OPERATION OF THIS AIRCRAFT, HE HAD NOTED A SPONGINESS IN THE BRAKES BUT IT WAS REMEDIED BY PUMPING THE BRAKES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.