- Date
- June 24, 1995, 11:50 local (18:50 UTC)
- Place
- Avalon, CA
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N56484Piper PA-34-200
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 30, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950624047209A
- Case key
- 29131
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
complete brake failure due to improper replacement and service of the brakes by company maintenance personnel.
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
After touchdown on the 3,240-foot-long runway, the pilot experienced total brake failure and was unable to stop the aircraft before overrunning the runway. The airplane collided with an airport boundary fence. FAA airworthiness inspectors examined the aircraft and found that the hydraulic reservoir was 3/4 full and the brake pads looked new. Both brake pedals were spongy and would go to the floor. Air was found in the brake lines. The brakes were replaced and serviced on June 23, 1995. The accident flight was the first one since the work on the brakes was accomplished.
Factual narrative
On June 24, 1995, at 1150 hours Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-34-200, N56484, overran runway 22 while landing and collided with a fence at Catalina Airport, Avalon, California. The aircraft was operated by Aero Club of Van Nuys, California, and was rented by the pilot for a personal cross-country flight to Catalina Island. The airplane was substantially damaged and the certificated airline transport pilot and his two passengers were not injured. The flight originated at Van Nuys, California, on the day of the accident at 1100. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.
In a verbal statement, the pilot reported that after touchdown he experienced a brake failure and could not stop the aircraft prior to overrunning the 3,240-foot-long runway and colliding with a boundary fence.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspectors examined the airplane and found that the hydraulic reservoir was 3/4 full, and the brake pads looked new. He also reported that the brake pedals were spongy and would go to the floor. He also stated that there was air in the brake lines.
In a telephone interview, the owner of Aero Club stated that the brakes were replaced and serviced on June 23, 1995. The accident flight was the first one since the work on the brakes was accomplished.
Neither the pilot nor the operator responded to repeated written and telephone requests to complete a National Transportation Safety Board Pilot Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N56484
- Reported as
- Piper PA-34-200
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 34-7350338
- Airframe hours
- 5,025
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-C1E6, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Aero Club
- Registered owner
- Roxy Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · May 19, 1995 · 15 hours before
- Departed
- VNY · Van Nuys, CA
- Destination
- AVX · CA
- Airport
- AVX · Catalina Airport, runway 22, 3,240 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 47
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,300 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N56484 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.