- Date
- March 8, 2008, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place
- Stuart, FL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N400GGCessna 525B
- Defining event
- Taxi-to runway: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 31, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Fort Lauderdale FSDO
- FAA report
- 20080308836489A
- Case key
- 67633
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 flight crew's failure to reset the brakes circuit breaker resulting in a loss of brakes during taxi and an on ground collision with an unoccupied parked airplane.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
According to the flight crew, on March 6, 2008, the first officer had updated the Jepson Database and in the process had pulled the brake circuit breaker to keep the brake hydraulic motor from continuously cycling. This circuit breaker was missed when the airplane was restored to normal operating condition. On March 8, 2008, the first officer was performing the co-pilot duties. Clearance was received and the pilot in command began taxiing. The first officer started to program the flight management system. There was a strong gusty wind from the left. They had to make a 90-degee right turn to join the taxiway. The pilot in command made some comment about the brakes. The first officer looked up and they were headed toward an unoccupied parked airplane on the opposite side of the taxiway. At that time they struck the parked airplane. According to both crew members with the direction of the wind, nose steering alone was not enough to turn the airplane onto the taxiway. Brakes were needed but there were no brakes, and emergency brakes were not used.
Factual narrative
According to the flight crew, on March 6, 2008, the first officer had updated the Jepson Database and in the process had pulled the brake circuit breaker to keep the brake hydraulic motor from continuously cycling. This circuit breaker was missed when the airplane was restored to normal operating condition.
On March 8, 2008, the first officer was performing the co-pilot duties. Clearance was received and the pilot in command began taxiing. The first officer started to program the flight management system. There was a strong gusty wind from the left. They had to make a 90-degee right turn to join the taxiway. The pilot in command made some comment about the brakes. The first officer looked up and they were headed toward a parked unoccupied airplane on the opposite side of the taxiway. At that time they struck the parked airplane. According to both crew members with the direction of the wind, nose steering alone was not enough to turn the airplane onto the taxiway. Brakes were needed but there were no brakes, and emergency brakes were not used.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N400GG
- Reported as
- Cessna 525B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 0195
- Airframe hours
- 65
- Engines
- Williams International FJ44-3A, 2,780 lbs thrust, turbo fanWilliams International FJ44-3A, 2,780 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- TGC Aircraft Investments, LLC
- Registered owner
- 525b-0195 LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- SUA · Stuart, FL
- Destination
- DNL · Augusta, GA
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- SUA · Witham Field, runway 30, 5,826 × 100 ft, asphalt
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 76
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- November 1, 2007
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 5,500 total · 4,000 in this make and model · 3,500 as pilot in command · 49 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Co-pilot
- Age
- 74
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- November 1, 2007
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 15,000 total · 4,000 in this make and model · 12,000 as pilot in command · 65 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 19 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 7,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.17 inHg
- Observed at
- KSUA
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.