- Date
- July 1, 2000, 16:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N521MCMcCann Wheeler Express/FT
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 26, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000701039149A
- Case key
- 49814
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the obstructed brake pedals and the unavailable brakes to the pilot. Factors were the parked airplane and the fence.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The airplane was landing when it ran off the end of the runway and struck a parked airplane and the airport perimeter fence. The pilot said that, "after touchdown I tapped [the] brakes lightly and got no response. I applied heavier pressure but got no brakes other than very light response." The airplane went off the end of the runway and across the parking ramp striking a parked airplane and the airport perimeter fence. The parked airplane received minor damage to the left aileron. A postaccident examination revealed that the brake travel was restricted by a support bar installed above the brake pedals. No other anomalies were found that could be associated with a preexisting condition.
Factual narrative
On July 1, 2000, at 1645 eastern standard time, an amateur built McCann Wheeler Express/FT, N521MC, piloted by a commercial pilot was substantially damaged during contact with a parked airplane and the airport perimeter fence while landing on runway 13 (2,910 feet by 100 feet, asphalt) at the Smith Field Airport, Fort Wayne, Indiana. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and was operating on an instrument flight rules flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot reported no injuries to himself or his one passenger. The flight departed the Allen County Airport, Iola, Kansas at 1330.
In a written statement the pilot said that, "after touchdown I tapped [the] brakes lightly and got no response. I applied heavier pressure but got no brakes other than very light response." The airplane went off the end of the runway and across the parking ramp striking a parked airplane and the airport perimeter fence. The parked airplane received minor damage to the left aileron.
A postaccident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector revealed that a support bar installed above the brake pedals could restrict the brake travel. The inspector said that this condition was noticed when his feet were raised about 2 inches above the cockpit floor. No other anomalies were found that could be associated with a preexisting condition.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N521MC
- Reported as
- McCann Wheeler Express/FT (WHEELER EX)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 42
- Airframe hours
- 260
- Engine
- Continental IO-360-C1, 210 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Robert I Mccann
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 24, 2000 · 15 hours before
- Departed
- K88 · Iola, KS
- Destination
- SMD
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- SMD · Smith Field, runway 13, 2,910 × 100 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 65
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 7,338 total · 252 in this make and model · 6,838 as pilot in command · 14 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days · 7 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 250° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 176 °F, dew point 131 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FWA, 10 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.