# NTSB CEN24LA329: Cessna 414, N1652T, Leadville, CO, July 4, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 4, 2024, 10:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Leadville, CO · airport - Coordinates: 39.219472, -106.31641 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2195&lon=-106.3164&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 195014 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA329 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195014/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195014 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA329 ## Probable cause A loss of brake fluid for reasons that could not be determined, which resulted in a loss of braking effectiveness during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 414, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=2075908), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md) - [Fluids](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071000): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 414, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071000/cases.md?model=2075908), [All aircraft, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 414, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2075908), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 414, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2075908), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 414, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2075908), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Cessna 414, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2075908), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane’s brake system operated normally during the startup, taxi, and takeoff; however, while landing at the destination airport, he attempted to apply the brakes; however, there was no pressure on the brake pedals and no braking was available. There was also no pressure available on the co-pilot’s brake pedals. The airplane rolled the length of the runway. The pilot attempted to turn onto the perpendicular taxiway at the end of the runway, but the airplane departed the pavement and the nose landing gear collapsed. The nose landing gear trunnion and wheel well structure sustained substantial damage during the accident sequence. An examination of the brake system revealed that the left brake master cylinder was nearly empty and no pressure from the brake pedal to the wheel caliper was available. The right brake master cylinder contained about 1/4-inch of fluid remaining. Pressure to the wheel caliper was obtained with about three-quarter deflection of the brake pedal. The brake lines and calipers did not exhibit any evidence of leakage, and free movement of the caliper pistons was observed. Both the left and right brake linings exhibited minimal remaining thickness with signs of overheating. Airplane maintenance records noted that the landing gear was worked on during the most recent annual inspection, which was completed about two months before the accident. The pilot reported that the airplane had flown about 40 hours since the inspection. The mechanic who conducted the annual inspection reported that the brakes were inspected and no anomalies were observed at that time. Although the runway excursion was a result of the loss of brake fluid, the exact reason for the loss of brake fluid during the flight could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On July 4, 2024, about 1030 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 414 airplane, N1652T, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Lake County Airport (LXV), Leadville, Colorado. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that the airplane’s brake system operated normally during the startup, taxi, and takeoff. The initial landing approach at the destination terminated in a go-around due to another airplane back-taxiing on the runway. The second approach was normal, and the airplane touched down about 1,500 ft from the runway threshold. He attempted to apply the brakes after touchdown; however, there was no pressure on the brake pedals and no braking was available. There was also no pressure available on the co-pilot’s brake pedals. The airplane rolled the length of the runway. The pilot attempted to turn onto the perpendicular taxiway at the end of the runway, but the airplane departed the pavement, and the nose landing gear collapsed. The nose landing gear trunnion and wheel well structure sustained substantial damage during the accident sequence. An examination of the brake system revealed that the left brake master cylinder was nearly empty and no pressure from the brake pedal to the wheel caliper was available. The right brake master cylinder contained about 1/4-inch of fluid. Pressure to the wheel caliper was obtained with about three-quarter deflection of the brake pedal. The brake lines and calipers did not exhibit any evidence of leakage, and free movement of the caliper pistons was observed. Both the left and right brake linings exhibited minimal remaining thickness with signs of overheating. Airplane maintenance records noted that the landing gear was worked on during the most recent annual inspection, which was completed about two months before the accident. The pilot reported that the airplane had flown about 40 hours since the inspection. The mechanic who conducted the annual inspection reported that the brakes were inspected and no anomalies were observed at that time. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1652T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1652T), registered now, S/N 414-0432, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 414 - Registry model: [Cessna 414](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-414) (registry code 2075908) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 414-0432 - Year built: 1973 - Airframe hours: 4697.5 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-NB 325 horsepower reciprocating; Continental TSIO-520-NB 325 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 5, 2024 - Departed: ALS, Alamosa, CO - Destination: LXV, Leadville, CO - Airport: LXV, Lake County, runway 34, 6,400 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 24, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,732 total, 696 in this make and model, 2,308 as pilot in command, 141 in the last 90 days, 66 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.49 inHg - Observed at: KLXV, 1 nm away - METAR: METAR KLXV 041653Z AUTO VRB05KT 10SM CLR 17/M07 A3049 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20240704008949I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240704008949I), Jul 4, 2024: Cessna 414, Leadville, CO, Minor damage. On 7/4/2024 at 11:19 local, Cessna C414 encountered a runway excursion while landing on runway 34 at the Leadville-Lake County Airport (lxv), Leadville, CO.… ## Other investigations on N1652T (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 GAA17CA581](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA581), Sep 29, 2017: Cessna 414 (N1652T), San Jose, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper descent rate, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 14, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195014. 25.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17716953&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Report%20--%20CEN24LA329_redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photos (item 2, PDF, 9 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17717335&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photos%20--%20CEN24LA329-Rel.pdf - Brake system examination summary (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 276 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17797599&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Examination%20Summary%20--%20Brake%20System-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (excerpt) (item 4, PDF, 6 pages, 18.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17735054&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20--%20CEN24LA329_redacted-Rel.pdf - Mechanic statement (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17734323&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20--%20Mechanic%20(Ecord)_01Oct2024-Rel.pdf 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.