# NTSB ERA20CA036: Piper PA32, N5909V, Venice, FL, November 17, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 17, 2019, 13:37 local (18:37 UTC) - Place: Venice, FL - Coordinates: 27.067222, -82.440277 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.0672&lon=-82.4403&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-to runway: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 25, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 100569 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA036 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100569/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100569 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA036 ## Probable cause A stuck brake caliper, which overheated while the pilot was taxiing the airplane, caught fire, and subsequently destroyed the airplane. ## 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 · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-to runway: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Taxi-to runway: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150); cases with it: [Piper PA-32-300, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=7103212), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot taxied the airplane 0.5 mile to the hold-short line at the departure runway where he intended to complete an engine run-up. According to the pilot, the right brake "didn't feel right" as he approached the hold-short line, so he completed a 360° turn to "test the brakes at a higher than normal speed," and the right brake failed. During the turn and once the pilot stopped the airplane, he and the passenger smelled smoke and then saw smoke and fire coming from beneath the airplane. After the pilot and passenger safely egressed the cockpit, the airplane was destroyed by fire. The pilot stated that he thought the brake caliper was stuck, which likely led to the brake caliper catching fire. ## Factual narrative The airline transport-rated pilot taxied the airplane .5 miles to the hold-short line at the departure runway, where he intended to complete an engine run-up. According to the pilot, the right brake "didn't feel right" as he approached the hold-short line, so he completed a 360° turn to "test the brakes at a higher than normal speed." During the turn, smoke and then fire was seen coming from beneath the airplane. Once the airplane was stopped, the pilot and his passenger smelled smoke and then saw the smoke and fire. After the pilot and passenger safely egressed the cockpit, the airplane was destroyed by fire. The pilot stated that he thought the brake caliper was stuck, and while he expected the caliper to be smoking, he had not anticipated the fire. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5909V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5909V-2020-07-06), registration cancelled 2020-07-06, S/N 32-7740074, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA32 (300) - Registry model: [Piper PA-32-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32-300) (registry code 7103212) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-7740074 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 4039.91 - Engines: Lycoming TI0-540 SER 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 4, 2019, 9 hours before - Departed: VNC, Venice, FL - Destination: MYEH, North Eleuthra, CB - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: VNC, Venice Muni, runway 05, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; seat: left; flight hours: 1,000 total, 35 in this make and model, 1,000 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KVNC ## 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 20191117021679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191117021679A), Nov 17, 2019: Piper PA-32-300, Venice, FL, Destroyed. On November 17, 2019, at approximately 1237 local time N5909V, a 1977 Piper, PA-32 caught fire while taxing for departure. N5909V attempted a departure from… ## Other investigations on N5909V (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 CHI79FA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79FA003), Oct 4, 1978: Piper PA-32 (N5909V), Chicago, IL, substantial damage ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 10, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100569. 1.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 800 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484220&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record – Telephone Interview, Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484221&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20Telephone%20Interview,%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Police Report (item 3, .PDF, 384 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484222&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Police%20Report-Master.PDF - Witness Statement (item 4, .PDF, 133 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484223&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photos (item 5, .PDF, 329 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484224&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.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.