# NTSB MIA01LA009: Piper PA-28-161, N47881, Jesup, GA, October 18, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 18, 2000, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Jesup, GA - Coordinates: 31.660497, -81.930526 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.6605&lon=-81.9305&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report August 21, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 50497 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA01LA009 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50497/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01LA009 ## Probable cause A total failure of the wheel braking system due to the pilot's improper use of braking in downwind, downhill conditions, resulting in overheated brakes, and subsequent encounter with a downslope and terrain collision. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, taxi - brakes(normal) - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - landing gear,normal brake system - overtemperature - landing gear,normal brake system - failure,total - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi - terrain condition - downhill ## Analysis The pilot made the statement, which was substantiated by an aircraft inspector witness, that he was taxing eastbound on runway 10 for a westbound depart on runway 28. The wind was about 8 knots on his tail, the taxi route was downhill, and he had full fuel, one passenger, and luggage for two aboard. When he came to the run-up area for runway 28, his brakes failed and the aircraft ran off the hardtop and down a 35 to 45-degree embankment. Examination of the aircraft revealed damage to the cowling, propeller, a collapsed nose gear, and lower longeron buckling. Postacrash, the brakes operated normally, but showed sings of extreme heat. ## Factual narrative On October 18, 2000, about 1230 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161, N47881, registered to Zeller Aircraft Corporation, operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, ran off the runway run-up area prior to takeoff at the Jesup-Wayne County Airport, Jesup, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage, and the private-rated pilot and a passenger suffered minor injuries. According to the pilot, he was taxiing on the runway to the pretakeoff run-up area when his brakes lost effectiveness. With what little directional control remaining, to avoid runway construction equipment and personnel straight ahead, he veered off the pavement to his right and down an embankment. He stated that the surface winds were, 280 to 290 degrees at 8 knots, and that the runway sloped downard as he taxied eastward. He stated the damage to the aircraft to be a smashed cowling and collapsed nose landing gear. An aircraft inspector on the field confirmed damage to the longerons behind the firewall, in addition to the damage reported by the pilot. He added that the aircraft had been loaded with full fuel, a passenger, and luggage for two at the time of the accident. According to an FAA inspector, examination of the aircraft revealed the brakes system to be intact in proper operating order. The brake disc assemblies revealed evidence of extreme heating. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N47881](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N47881), registered now, S/N 28-7816151, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-161 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7816151 - Airframe hours: 6062 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Zeller Aircraft Corp. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 6, 2000, 42 hours before - Departed: JES, Jesup, GA - Destination: LZU, Lawrenceville, GA - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: JES, Jesup-Wayne County, runway 28, 4,920 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: minor; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 3, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 80 total, 7 in this make and model, 33 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Not reported - Wind: 340° at 5 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: AMG, 37 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 20001018017189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001018017189A), Oct 18, 2000: Piper PA28161, Jessup, GA, No damage. (-23) A/c PA-28 N47881 was backtaxing on runway 28. Brakes failed. To avoid construction straight ahead, a/c veered to the right of the runway centerline and… 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.