What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On March 19, 2026, a single-engine aircraft collided with an airport taxiway light in the run-up area of runway 30, ksua (Witham Field Airport). Two pilots were on board: a certificated flight instructor (CFI) and a student pilot.
Per the CFI statement, before the collision, the student pilot was in control until the CFI was informed that the brakes were not functioning. At which point the CFI took control and attempted to stop the airplane, but was unsuccessful. The CFI also stated that the aircraft continued to travel off the pavement and into the grass, colliding with the taxiway light, which was struck by the aircraft's propeller.
Pictures provided from the scene show a tire mark streak consistent with a hard right turn into the taxi light.
As the FAA filed it
ON MARCH 19, 2026, A SINGLE-ENGINE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH AN AIRPORT TAXIWAY LIGHT IN THE RUN-UP AREA OF RUNWAY 30, KSUA (WITHAM FIELD AIRPORT). TWO PILOTS WERE ON BOARD: A CERTIFICATED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) AND A STUDENT PILOT.
PER THE CFI STATEMENT, BEFORE THE COLLISION, THE STUDENT PILOT WAS IN CONTROL UNTIL THE CFI WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKES WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. AT WHICH POINT THE CFI TOOK CONTROL AND ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE AIRPLANE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE CFI ALSO STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO TRAVEL OFF THE PAVEMENT AND INTO THE GRASS, COLLIDING WITH THE TAXIWAY LIGHT, WHICH WAS STRUCK BY THE AIRCRAFT'S PROPELLER.
PICTURES PROVIDED FROM THE SCENE SHOW A TIRE MARK STREAK CONSISTENT WITH A HARD RIGHT TURN INTO THE TAXI LIGHT.