# NTSB LAX00LA348: Culver LFA, N37820, Ione, CA, September 26, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 25, 2000, 17:00 local (Sep 26, 2000, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Ione, CA - Coordinates: 38.255001, -120.933334 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2550&lon=-120.9333&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 6, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 50327 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA348 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50327/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA348 ## Probable cause The failure of the right brake during the landing roll resulting in loss of directional control and subsequent nose over of the airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - loose gravel/sandy - directional control - not obtained (cause) - landing gear,normal brake system - fractured (cause) - remedial action - not successful, pilot in command - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - fence - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis After landing on a private dirt/gravel airstrip the airplane veered off the right side of the ruway. The airplane collided with a fence and nosed over inverted. The pilot reported the airplane's inability to be straightened with the use of left rudder, brake, and tail wheel steering. Post accident examination of the brakes revealed a broken rotor disk on the right main landing gear. ## Factual narrative On September 25, 2000, at 1700 hours Pacific daylight time, a Culver LFA, N37820, ran off the runway, and nosed over while landing on a private airstrip near Ione, California. The airplane was destroyed, and the certificated airline transport pilot received serious injuries. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot as a personal flight under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The local flight originated from the private airstrip earlier that afternoon. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed. A witness reported that the pilot was landing to the east on the east-west dirt strip when the airplane began veering to the right. After rolling about 300 feet down the strip, the airplane ran off the right side of the runway, struck a fence collapsing the main gear, and nosed over. The witness also reported that after looking at the airplane's track in the dirt, it appeared that the right main was more pronounced. He said that the right main tire also showed evidence of abrasion on its tread surface. He checked the brakes in the airplane and found that the right brake was "definitely" dragging. He reported that the airplane was equipped with Cleveland brakes in accordance with the applicable supplemental type certificate (STC). Post crash examination revealed a broken rotor disk on the right main landing gear. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N37820](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N37820-2002-03-05), registration cancelled 2002-03-05, S/N 354, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Culver LFA - Registry model: [Culver LFA](https://openairdocs.org/model/culver-lfa) (registry code 8730204) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Franklin 4AC199D&E series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-4ac199d-e-series) (registry code 27009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 354 - Airframe hours: 1004 - Engines: Franklin 4 AC-199 E3 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ormond Lee Howard - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 20, 2000, 3 hours before - Departed: PVT, Howard Airport, CA - Destination: CA - Airport: PVT, Howard Private Airport, runway 067, 1,500 × 50 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; injuries: serious; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 24, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 22,277 total, 230 in this make and model, 15,500 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: SMF ## 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 20000925013919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000925013919A), Sep 25, 2000: Supac LFA, Ione, CA, Destroyed. (-23) A/c touched down and veered to the right. The a/c left the rwy and hit a barbed wire fence and nosed over. Investigation by the pilots. Indicat ed the… 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.