- Date
- April 2, 2009, 18:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place
- Newark, NJ
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N707AGPiper PA-31-325
- Defining event
- Taxi-to runway: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 14, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20090402008849A
- Case key
- 73593
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 pilot's decision to continue to operate the airplane with inoperative brakes on the airplane's right side.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot aborted a previous takeoff because he was unable to maintain directional control of the airplane. He taxied the airplane to parking, inspected it visually, and elected to attempt another takeoff. During taxi, the control tower directed the pilot to complete a 180-degree turn. While turning, the pilot experienced a loss of brake pressure and directional control. He then applied asymmetrical engine power in an effort to complete the turn, but struck a fence post resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. Inspection of the airplane by the FAA revealed inoperative brakes on the airplane's right side.
Factual narrative
The pilot aborted a previous takeoff because he was unable to maintain directional control of the airplane. He taxied the airplane to parking, inspected it visually, and elected to attempt another takeoff. During taxi, the control tower directed the pilot to complete a 180-degree turn. While turning, the pilot experienced a loss of brake pressure and directional control. He then applied asymmetrical engine power in an effort to complete the turn, but struck a fence post, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. Inspection of the airplane by the Federal Aviation Administration revealed inoperative brakes on the airplane's right side.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N707AG
- Reported as
- Piper PA-31-325
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 31-8012001
- Airframe hours
- 3,482
- Engines
- Lycoming TI0-540 SER, 310 horsepower, reciprocatingLycoming TI0-540 SER, 310 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Emersums LLC
- Registered owner
- Emersums LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 12, 2008 · 48 hours before
- Departed
- EWR · Newark, NJ
- Destination
- EWR · Newark, NJ
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Airport
- EWR · Newark Liberty Int. Airport
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 69
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 18, 2008
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 11,800 total · 233 in this make and model · 11,574 as pilot in command · 36 in the last 90 days · 17 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 7,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 59 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- EWR
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.