# NTSB LAX92LA187: Piper PA-34-200, N55296, Van Nuys, CA, April 25, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 24, 1992, 20:09 local (Apr 25, 1992, 03:09 UTC)
- Place: Van Nuys, CA
- Coordinates: 34.189624, -118.490905 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1896&lon=-118.4909&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27605
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92LA187
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27605/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA187

## Probable cause

THE INADEQUATE INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE'S BRAKES SYSTEM BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL AND THE MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL NOT REPLACING BRAKE LININGS THAT WERE WORN BEYOND THEIR SERVICE LIMITS. THE RUNWAY LIGHTS AND FENCE THAT WERE IN THE AIRPLANE'S GROUND PATH AFTER IT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - roll
  - brakes(normal) - not maintained, company maintenance personnel (cause)
  - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, company maintenance personnel (cause)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - fence (contributing factor)
  - object - runway light (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE PILOT APPLIED BOTH BRAKES TO SLOW THE AIRPLANE. THE RIGHT BRAKE FAILED TO OPERATE AND THE AIRPLANE RAN OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK RUNWAY LIGHTS AND A CHAIN LINK FENCE BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE'S BRAKE SYSTEM AFTER THE ACCIDENT DISCLOSED THAT THE RIGHT BRAKE LINING WAS WORN BEYOND ITS SERVICE LIMITS. BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT BRAKE SYSTEMS HAD BEEN OVERHAULED IN MARCH, 1992.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N55296](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N55296-1994-04-19), registration cancelled 1994-04-19, S/N 347350198 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-34-200
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200) (registry code 7103405) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 347350198
- Airframe hours: 4072
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-C1E6 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Falcon Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner: Falcon Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, April 13, 1992, 54 hours before
- Departed: P06, BULLHEAD CITY, AZ
- Destination: VNY
- Airport: VNY, Van Nuys, runway 16, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,321 total, 294 in this make and model, 1,171 as pilot in command, 197 in the last 90 days, 58 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: VNY, 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19920424011119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920424011119A), Apr 24, 1992: Piper PA34200, Van Nuys, CA, Substantial damage. Reported brake failure on landing. Ran off runway into a fence. Found brakes worn out. Log says overhauled in March

## Other investigations on N55296 (1)

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.

- [NTSB MIA78DLD33](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA78DLD33), Apr 12, 1978: Piper PA-34 (N55296), Lakeland, FL, substantial damage

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.

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