- Date
- July 7, 1997, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- Barstow, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N458AECessna 150G
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 4, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970707017109A
- Case key
- 29830
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
The student pilot's inability to attain directional control of the aircraft due to an improperly adjusted parking brake spring.
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
Witnesses reported that the aircraft was taxiing to the active runway when the aircraft veered off the taxiway, hit a sand dune, and nosed over. The student pilot reported that the aircraft's right brake failed and the aircraft veered to the left and departed the runway. An A & P mechanic with inspection authorization examined the aircraft. He reported that the right brake functioned properly, but that the left parking brake spring was not adjusted properly, allowing the left brake to be activated at all times.
Factual narrative
On July 7, 1997, at 1100 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 150G, N458AE, departed the taxiway, collided with a sand dune, and came to rest inverted at the Barstow-Daggett, California, airport. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, and the student pilot/owner, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed for the instructional flight that originated from the Needles, California, airport at 0955.
Witnesses to the accident reported that the aircraft was taxiing to the active runway (runway 26) when the aircraft veered off the taxiway, hit a sand dune, and nosed over.
In an interview with an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot reported that he had landed at the Barstow-Daggett airport to refuel his aircraft before continuing his flight to the Van Nuys, California, airport. The pilot claimed that during the taxi he checked the aircraft brakes and that is when the right brake failed. The pilot reported that the left brake worked and caused the aircraft to veer to the left and depart the taxiway.
An FAA airframe and powerplant mechanic with inspection authorization examined the aircraft after the accident. He reported that the right brake functioned normally, but that the left parking brake spring was not adjusted properly, allowing the left brake to be activated at all times. No other preexisting anomalies were found.
The pilot did not respond to repeated written and telephone inquiries for a statement and the aircraft maintenance records.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N458AE
- Reported as
- Cessna 150G
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15066610
- Engine
- Continental O-200, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Mitchell A. Thomason
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- EED · Needles, CA
- Destination
- VNY · Van Nuys, CA
- Airport
- DAG · Barstow-Daggett, runway 26, 6,400 × 150 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
- 36
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 75 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 13 knots
- Visibility
- 35 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 93 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- DAG
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 N458AE · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.