- Date
- August 31, 1995, 08:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place
- Broomfield, CO
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N8072JPiper PA-60-601P
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 19, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950831049499A
- Case key
- 19565
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 attempt to taxi with a known inoperative brake. A factor was partial brake failure due to a leaking seal.
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
During taxi for takeoff, the left brake failed. The right brake and nose wheel steering remained operative. The pilot attempted to taxi back to parking using differential power. The aircraft exited the ramp area and struck two automobiles.
Factual narrative
On August 31, 1995, at 0800 mountain daylight time, an Aerostar PA-60-601P, N8072J, collided with vehicles while taxiing at Jefferson County Airport, Broomfield, Colorado. The private pilot and passenger were not injured and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 business flight and no flight plan was on file. The flight was preparing for departure to Billings, Montana.
According to the pilot, while he was taxiing for takeoff, the left brake failed. He was attempting to taxi back to maintenance facilities using differential power for directional control when he lost control of the aircraft and struck two vehicles parked beside the ramp area.
Examination of the aircraft by this investigator and a Federal Aviation Administration inspector provided evidence that the left brake was leaking at the "O" ring seals. The right brake was firm and functional and the nose wheel steering was functional.
According to the Manager of Windsong Aviation, who maintains the aircraft, with the right brake and nose wheel steering functional, the aircraft was fully controllable.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8072J
- Reported as
- Piper PA-60-601P
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 5847963257
- Airframe hours
- 2,568
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540-S1A5, 290 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Ronald R. Roderick
- Registered owner
- Judith S. Roderick
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 1, 1995 · 30 hours before
- Departed
- BJC
- Destination
- BIL · Billings, MT
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Airport
- BJC · Jefferson County
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 57
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 5,385 total · 1,500 in this make and model · 5,000 as pilot in command · 25 in the last 90 days · 18 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BJC, 1 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.