# NTSB ATL96LA118: Cessna 172N, N5291E, Nashville, TN, August 9, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 9, 1996, 12:13 local (17:13 UTC) - Place: Nashville, TN - Location: 36.1245° N, 86.6782° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at NASHVILLE INTL (BNA), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1245&lon=-86.6782&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 18, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3752 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL96LA118 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3752/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL96LA118 ## Probable cause inadequate annual inspection by other maintenance personnel and inadequate pre-flight inspection by the pilot. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, taxi - to takeoff - landing gear,normal brake system - leak (cause) - maintenance,annual inspection - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi - to takeoff ## Analysis While taxiing to the runway for takeoff, the right brake became ineffective. The airplane rolled to the end of the taxiway and down an embankment, colliding with trees. During the postaccident examination of the brake system, evidence of an old leak was found at the right brake caliper and brake line connection. Additionally, the master brake cylinder contained only residual fluid. According to the pilot's report, an annual inspection was conducted 1.7 operating hours and about one month prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On August 9, 1996, about 1213 central daylight time, a Cessna 172, N5291E, was substantially damaged after a loss of control and collision with trees while taxiing at Nashville International Airport, in Nashville, Tennessee. The private pilot was not injured in the accident. The airplane was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that he was taxiing out to the runway and lost effective braking on the right main landing gear brake. The airplane veered left. He released brake pressure to stay on the taxiway, exited the end of the taxiway, and rolled down a hill. The airplane hit several small trees before coming to a complete stop. An inspector examined the airplane's brake system and reported that no measurable hydraulic fluid was found in the master cylinder. He also reported that the brake fluid line that connects to the right caliper did not have a fresh leak but appeared to have a leak at one time. Residual fluid around the connection to the caliper was dark and sticky. According to the pilot's report of the accident, the airplane had operated 1.7 hours since the last annual inspection which was accomplished about one month prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5291E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5291E), registered now, S/N 17271820, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17271820 - Airframe hours: 7200 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Jma Aviation - Registered owner: A/L Aviat, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, July 13, 1996, 2 hours before - Departed: BNA - Destination: M34, GILBERTSVILLE, KY - Airport: BNA, Nashville International, runway 20C, 8,000 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 440 total, 206 in this make and model, 380 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BNA, 1 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 19960809022189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960809022189A), Aug 9, 1996: Cessna 172N, Nashville, TN, Substantial damage. Lost right brake. Unable use left brake. Exited. Taxiway down hill into trees. No fluid master cyl. Been leaking. 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.