# NTSB GAA19CA307: David S Meek SUN Devil, N1418, Junction City, KS, June 1, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 1, 2019, 09:15 local (14:15 UTC) - Place: Junction City, KS - Coordinates: 39.043334, -96.84333 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0433&lon=-96.8433&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99536 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA307 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99536/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99536 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA307 ## Probable cause The pilot rated passenger's failure to maintain directional control during landing. Contributing to the accident was the improperly maintained main landing gear brake pads. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Meek David S SUN DEVIL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05613EW), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Meek David S SUN DEVIL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=05613EW), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not serviced/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Meek David S SUN DEVIL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=05613EW), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Meek David S SUN DEVIL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05613EW), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: braking capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061050): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Meek David S SUN DEVIL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061050/cases.md?model=05613EW), [All aircraft, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061050/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Meek David S SUN DEVIL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05613EW), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during landing in the tailwheel equipped airplane, the pilot rated passenger was manipulating the controls. After the airplane touched down, the passenger applied braking and believed that the right main landing gear brake locked up. The airplane subsequently veered to the right, exited the runway, and impacted terrain. An examination of the main landing gear brake system revealed that the brake pads were extremely worn. The I-lift wing struts were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, during landing in the tailwheel equipped airplane, the pilot rated passenger was manipulating the controls. After the airplane touched down, the passenger applied braking and believed that the right main landing gear brake locked up. The airplane subsequently veered to the right, exited the runway, and impacted terrain. An examination of the main landing gear brake system revealed that the brake pads were extremely worn. The I-lift wing struts were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1418](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1418), registered now, S/N DSM II, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DAVID S MEEK SUN DEVIL - Registry model: [Meek David S SUN DEVIL](https://openairdocs.org/model/meek-david-s-sun-devil) (registry code 05613EW) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: DSM II - Year built: 1985 - Engines: Continental Motors O-470 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Airport: 3JC, Freeman Field, runway 18, 3,498 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 88; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; seat: front - Pilot-rated passenger; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; last flight review September 14, 2018; seat: rear ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Wind: 10° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: KFRI, 4 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 20190601005559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190601005559A), Jun 1, 2019: Meek David S SUN DEVIL, Junction City, KS, Substantial damage. During the second attempt at landing on runway 18 the airplane departed the runway to the right. A post accident investigation revealed both the left and right… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99536. 932 KB in all. - Record of memorandum - pilot (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9623272&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=RECORD%20OF%20MEMORANDUM%20307-Rel.pdf - FAA record of conversation (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9622956&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=RECORD%20OF%20CONVERSATION-%20FAA-Rel.pdf - Accident photo (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 755 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9623627&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20307-Rel.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.