- Date
- May 25, 2002, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- La Porte, TX
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N98TTAero Commander 500-S
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 30, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20020525034569A
- Case key
- 54818
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 failure of a hydraulic line, which resulted in the loss of the brakes.
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
After landing at normal speed, the pilot applied brakes and the pedals went to the stops. He immediately pulled the fuel shut off, feathered the propellers, and cut off all switches while maintaining directional control with the rudder. Realizing he wasn't slowing enough, he decided to steer the airplane on the grass to reduce speed. The airplane rolled to the airport perimeter fence, hitting it at approximately 20-25 mph and stopped in the ditch just outside the fence. Examination of the hydarulic system revealed a failed hydraulic line.
Factual narrative
On May 25, 2002, at 1300 central daylight time, an Aero Commander 500-S twin-engine airplane, N98TT, was substantially damaged during landing roll on runway 12 at the La Porte Municipal Airport near La Porte, Texas. The airplane was registered to and operated by Max Bowen Enterprises of League City, Texas. The commercial pilot and the two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 business flight. The flight originated from Gatesville, Texas, at 1125.
The 3,111-hour pilot reported that after landing at normal speed, he applied brakes and the pedals "went to the stops." He immediately pulled the fuel shut off, feathered the propellers, and cut off all switches while maintaining directional control with the rudder. Realizing he wasn't slowing enough, he elected to steer the airplane onto the grass to reduce speed. Rudder control was used to exit the runway on the left side. The airplane contuned to roll to the airport perimeter fence, impacting it at approximately 20-25 mph, coming to rest in a ditch, just outside the perimeter fence.
A passenger reported that they landed and started to brake when the brakes "failed," and they went into the grass to try to slow down. The airplane collided with the fence and stopped in the ditch.
The FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, reported that the airplane's nose and nose landing gear were damaged, and the left wing sustained structural damage. Examination of the hydraulic system revealed a failed hydraulic line.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N98TT
- Reported as
- Aero Commander 500-S
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 3073
- Airframe hours
- 6,500
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540-E1B5, 290 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Max Bowen Enterprises
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 11, 2001 · 60.3 hours before
- Departed
- 05F · Gatesville, TX
- Destination
- T41 · La Porte, TX
- Airport
- T41 · La Porte Municipal, runway 12, 4,165 × 75 ft, asphalt
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
- 58
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,111 total · 737 in this make and model · 2,838 as pilot in command · 57 in the last 90 days · 18 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 13, 2003, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 532 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.