# NTSB LAX05CA280: Piper PA-28-236, N4366K, San Martin, CA, August 25, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 25, 2005, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: San Martin, CA - Coordinates: 37.08139, -121.596664 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0814&lon=-121.5967&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 62372 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX05CA280 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62372/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05CA280 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll. A factor in the accident was the spongy brakes. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - roll - landing gear,normal brake system - low pressure (contributing factor) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - not corrected, pilot in command - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The airplane veered off the left side of the runway and struck trees during the landing rollout. The pilot said that the flight and landing were uneventful, but when he applied brake pressure, the right brake did not have any pressure. The pilot attempted to abort the landing roll, but ran out of runway. Near the end of the runway, the pilot again applied brake pressure and veered off the left side of the runway impacting trees. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector responded to the accident site along with a mechanic and they tested the brake system. According to the inspector, the brakes had equal pressure, but were both spongy and when depressed went to their stops. No leaks were noted in the brake system. According to the pilot, the last annual inspection took place in May 2005 and no anomalies with the airplane were noted since the annual. ## Factual narrative On August 25, 2005, at 1430 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-236, N4366K, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees after veering off runway 14 at the South County Airport, San Martin, California. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the auspices of 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight that originated from Palm Springs, California, at 1200. During a telephone interview with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator, the pilot said the flight and landing on runway 14 (3,100 feet long and 75 feet wide) were uneventful. The airplane was rolling down the runway around 15-20 knots when he applied brakes to slow down. The airplane then veered to the left, exiting the runway surface, and impacting trees. The pilot believed the right brake failed. According to the pilot's written statement, he attempted to stop the airplane during the landing roll out to exit on the first taxiway; however, when he applied the brakes he felt no brake pressure on the right side. As the airplane veered to the left, he applied right rudder pressure and power to abort the landing. The airplane proceeded down the runway; however, the pilot reduced the power to idle, as there was not a lot of remaining runway. The pilot again touched the brakes and the airplane veered left off the runway. The nose landing gear was collapsed aft, the wing tip fairings were broken off, the left wing was pushed aft, and the engine firewall was crumpled. According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident site, he and a mechanic tested the brake system. According to the inspector the brakes had equal pressure, but were both spongy, and when depressed, went to their stops. No leaks were noted in the brake system. According to the pilot, the last annual inspection took place in May 2005, and no anomalies with the airplane were noted since the annual. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4366K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4366K), registered now, S/N 28-8411025, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-236 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-236](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-236) (registry code 7102815) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-8411025 - Engines: Lycoming O-540 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John Giancola - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2005 - Departed: UDD, Palm Springs, CA - Destination: E16, San Martin, CA - Airport: E16, South County Airport, runway 14, 3,100 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 263 total, 223 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 8 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F ## 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 20050825022539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050825022539A), Aug 25, 2005: Piper PA28236, San Martin, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) After touchdown the PIC applied normal brake pressure and found the aircraft turning to the left. The PIC applied takeoff power and accomplished a go… 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.