# NTSB ATL97LA100: Beech 55, N45CW, Murfreesboro, TN, July 10, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 10, 1997, 07:15 local (12:15 UTC) - Place: Murfreesboro, TN - Coordinates: 35.979831, -86.510803 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9798&lon=-86.5108&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 24, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3871 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL97LA100 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3871/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL97LA100 ## Probable cause The failure of the aircraft braking system due to low brake pressure resulting from the undetermined loss of brake fluid from the brake reservoir. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - roll - landing gear,normal brake system - pressure too low (cause) - fluid - loss,total (cause) - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - tree(s) ## Analysis While applying brakes on the landing roll, the left brake pedal collapsed, and the airplane started drifting to the right of the runway centerline. The pilot applied right engine throttle to correct for the right drift condition. The airplane rolled off the right side of the 3,800-foot-long runway approximately 3,800 feet down the runway. An examination of the left brake assembly at the accident site revealed that there was no brake fluid in the left reservoir. The left brake assembly functioned normally during subsequent testing. There were no obvious signs of fluid leakage on the reservoir or brake assemblies. A review of the aircraft maintenance logs revealed that an annual inspection had been completed on the airplane about 55 hours before the accident. The maintenance logs stated that the airplane brakes were serviced during the last annual inspection. ## Factual narrative On July 10, 1997, at 0715 central daylight time, a Beech 55, N45CW, veered off the right side of runway 18, collided with runway lights and signs, and collapsed the nose gear during a full stop landing at the Murfreesboro Municipal Airport in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The business flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with an instrument flight clearance. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The commercial rated pilot and her passenger were not injured. The flight departed Arlington, Tennessee, at 0600. According to the pilot, the approach profile appeared to have been normal to touchdown. After touchdown, and while applying brakes on the landing roll, the left brake pedal collapsed, and the airplane started drifting to the right of the runway centerline. The pilot applied right engine throttle to correct for the right drift condition. The airplane rolled off the right side of the 3800 foot long runway approximately 3800 feet down the runway. A review of the aircraft maintenance logs revealed that an annual inspection had been completed on the airplane about 55 hours before the accident. The maintenance logs stated that the airplane brakes were serviced during the last annual inspection. An examination of the left brake assembly at the accident site revealed that there was no brake fluid in the left reservoir. The left brake assembly functioned normally during subsequent testing. There were no obvious signs of fluid leakage on the brake or reservoir assemblies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N45CW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N45CW), registered now, S/N TC-1319, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 55 - Registry model: [Beech 95-B55 (T42A)](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-95-b55-t42a) (registry code 1152706) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TC-1319 - Airframe hours: 2680 - Engines: Continental IO-470 165 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Universal Asset Management - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 30, 1997, 80 hours before - Departed: LHC, ARLINGTON, TN - Destination: MBT - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MBT, Murfreesboro Municipal, runway 18, 3,898 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,200 total, 140 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MBT, 360 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 19970710018179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970710018179A), Jul 10, 1997: Beech 95B55, Murfreesboro, TN, Substantial damage. Aircraft left brake failed on landing, rolled off the runway. (-23) during landing at mbt, runway 18/36 length 3898' at 0715 local, pilot made a normal… 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.