# NTSB CHI00LA219: McCann Wheeler Express/FT, N521MC, Fort Wayne, IN, July 1, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 1, 2000, 16:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Fort Wayne, IN - Location: 41.1434° N, 85.1528° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at SMITH FLD (SMD), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1434&lon=-85.1528&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49814 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI00LA219 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49814/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA219 ## Probable cause the obstructed brake pedals and the unavailable brakes to the pilot. Factors were the parked airplane and the fence. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - landing gear,normal brake system - obstructed (cause) - brakes(normal) - not available, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - aircraft parked/standing (contributing factor) - object - fence (contributing factor) ## 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 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: McCann WHEELER EXPRESS/FT (WHEELER EX) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 42 - Airframe hours: 260 - Engines: 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. - Pilot; age 65; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20000701039149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000701039149A), Jul 1, 2000: Amtr EXPRESS, Fort Wayne, IN, No damage. (-23) This a/c has a horizontal bar (part of aircraft structure) installed just above the brake pedals. During landing if one were to have their feet only a… 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.