# NTSB ATL07CA058: Cessna 172K, N46567, Cornelia, GA, March 22, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 22, 2007, 18:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Cornelia, GA - Coordinates: 34.497222, -83.556663 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4972&lon=-83.5567&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 27, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: College Park FSDO-11 - NTSB case key (mKey): 65478 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL07CA058 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65478/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL07CA058 ## Probable cause The failure of the owner/operator to repair or replace a known leaking brake system components resulting in a total loss of brakes while taxing and an on-ground collision with trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, taxi - landing gear,normal brake system - failure,total - maintenance,service of aircraft/equipment - inadequate, company/operator management (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The airplane veered off a taxiway and collided with trees after landing. The certified flight instructor (CFI) stated he was conducting a training flight with a new student. A preflight inspection was completed and no anomalies were noted except for a low nose wheel tire which was corrected. They departed the airport and flew north of the airport and completed some air work before returning back to the airport to do some landings. The student pilot made a normal landing to runway 24. The CFI felt the student pilot apply some brakes and informed the student pilot to maintain directional control with the rudder only. The student pilot complied with his instructions, taxied the airplane to the end of runway 24, and turned left onto the taxiway. Another airplane was on the parallel to the runway 24 taxiway. The CFI instructed the student pilot to stop the airplane after clearing the runway. The airplane went further than the CFI wanted it to go and the CFI instructed the student pilot to apply brakes. The CFI applied brakes and the airplane would not stop. The CFI applied the emergency brake and the airplane would not stop. The CFI pulled the mixture to the cut off position and attempted to stop the airplane on the lip of the edge of the taxiway. The airplane did not stop and went down an embankment and collided with some trees. The registered owner and operator of the airplane informed the FAA that the brake system had been serviced a week before the accident by adding brake fluid to the brake system. Review of the airframe logbook revealed no entry had been entered into the logbook pertaining to the servicing of the brake system. A functional test of the brake system was performed by the FAA inspectors who tried to push the airplane with the parking brake engaged. In addition, one FAA inspector got in the airplane's left front seat and applied brakes and then in the right front seat and applied brakes as the other FAA pushed the airplane, and the airplane continued to move in each test. The brake pads and rotors were visually inspected and no anomalies were noted. Visual inspection of the master cylinder found that brake fluid was leaking onto the exterior of the master cylinder components, as evidenced by the staining of dried hydraulic fluid. The carpet near the pilot's (left front seat) rudder pedals were saturated with brake fluid and there were indications of some recently spilled brake fluid which had a reddish color. In addition, brake fluid stains that were brownish in color were observed. ## Factual narrative The certified flight instructor (CFI) stated he arrived at the airport to conduct a training flight with a new student pilot. A preflight inspection was conducted and the only anomalies noted was low pressure on the nose wheel. The tire pressure was increased and CFI and student pilot entered the airplane. The engine was started, the airplane was taxied to runway 24, and the required checklist items were completed. They departed the airport and flew north of the airport and completed some air work before returning back to the airport to do some landings. The student pilot crossed the airport at mid field and entered left traffic following another landing airplane. The student pilot made a normal landing to runway 24. The CFI felt the pilot apply some brakes and informed the student pilot to maintain directional control with the rudder only. The student pilot complied with his instructions, taxied the airplane to the end of runway 24, and turned left onto the taxiway. The other airplane was on the parallel to the runway 24 taxiway. The CFI instructed the student pilot to stop the airplane after clearing the runway. The airplane went further than the CFI wanted it to go and he told the student pilot to apply brakes. The CFI applied brakes and the airplane would not stop. The CFI applied the emergency brake and the airplane would not stop. The CFI pulled the mixture to the cut off position and attempted to stop the airplane on the lip of the edge of the taxiway. The airplane did not stop and went down an embankment and collided with trees. The registered owner/operator informed the FAA that the brake system had been serviced one week before the accident by adding brake fluid. Review of the airframe logbook revealed no entry had been entered into the logbook for the servicing of the brake system. Two FAA inspectors examined the airplane on March 23, 2007. A functional test of the brake system was performed by pushing the airplane with the parking brake engaged, "which indicated a braking system failure." Additionally, a similar functional test was performed with one inspector in the airplane applying the brakes from the left seat, which resulted in a brake failure. The test was performed from the right seat with identical results. The brake pads and rotors were visually inspected and no anomalies were noted. "Visual inspection of the master cylinders indicated that brake fluid was leaking onto the exterior of the master cylinder components evident by the staining of dried hydraulic fluid. During the same inspection, the carpet near the pilot's (left front seat) rudder pedals were saturated with brake fluid. There were indications of some recently spilled brake fluid (which had a reddish color) and brake fluid that had spilled some time ago (which was brownish in color)." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N46567](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N46567), registered now, S/N 17257355, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172K - Registry model: [Cessna 172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172k) (registry code 2072430) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17257355 - Airframe hours: 6981 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-ECD 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: James H. Tatum - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2006 - Departed: KAJR, Cornelia, GA - Destination: KAJR, Cornelia, GA - Airport: KAJR, Habersham County Airport, runway 24, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 30; injuries: none; private, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2006; seat: right; flight hours: 2,475 total, 350 in this make and model, 2,257 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 30; injuries: none; seat: right ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: KGVL, 19 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20070322005969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070322005969A), Mar 22, 2007: Cessna 172K, Cornelia, GA, Substantial damage. (-23) A Cessna 172, N46567, was preflighted twice; once by CFI and then again with the student pilot (sp). Operations were normal during runup, taxi and… ## Other investigations on N46567 (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB CHI73FEC11](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI73FEC11), Sep 29, 1972: Cessna 172 (N46567), Clinton, MI, substantial damage From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.