# NTSB NYC99LA019: Piper PA-34-R200, N800JK, Caldwell, NJ, October 9, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 9, 1998, 18:03 local (22:03 UTC) - Place: Caldwell, NJ - Location: 40.8752° N, 74.2814° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at ESSEX COUNTY (CDW), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8752&lon=-74.2814&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45177 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC99LA019 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45177/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA019 ## Probable cause The failure of both the normal and emergency brake systems. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - landing gear,normal brake system - failure,total (cause) - landing gear,emergency brake system - failure,total (cause) - weather condition - tailwind ## Analysis The pilot was cleared for the option after flying the only available localizer approach through a 1,200-foot overcast. She opted to land straight ahead with a 6-knot tailwind, and landed about 1,500 feet down the 4,500 foot runway. During the rollout, the pilot found she had almost no toe brake pressure, and when she attempted to pump up brake pressure through an emergency handle, there was still no pressure of any significance. The airplane rolled off the end of the runway, and into a brook. Wreckage examination revealed no ruptures of the hydraulic lines, some hydraulic fluid pooled under the rudder pedals, and leaks from both brake cylinders. No brake pressure could be established using the toe brakes, and the emergency hand brake had to be pumped four times before any toe brake pressure developed. Airplane maintenance had been performed three months earlier, which included bleeding the brake system and replenishing the reservoir. ## Factual narrative On October 9, 1998, at 1803 Eastern Daylight Time, a Piper PA-34-R200, N800JK, was destroyed while landing at Essex County Airport (CDW), Caldwell, New Jersey. The certificated commercial pilot and two passengers were uninjured, while a third passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. An instrument flight plan was filed for the flight between Worcester Regional Airport (ORH), Worcester, Massachusetts, and Caldwell. The corporate flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot stated that while on the localizer approach, the tower controller told her that there was new weather, and to expect a straight-in to Runway 22 instead of the circling approach she had anticipated. When the pilot crossed the final approach fix, she knew the airplane was high, so she added a second notch of flaps. When she saw the runway, the airplane was still high, so she reduced the power to idle and added the last notch of flaps. She landed long, but felt she had enough runway to stop. When she applied the brakes, the right brake had no pressure, while the left brake only had "a little." She grabbed the emergency hand brake and tried to pump up the toe brakes, but "did not get much, if any, response." The airplane continued off the end of the runway and into a brook. The airport tower controller stated, and was confirmed by audio tapes, that the pilot had subsequently been cleared "for the option," and that the airplane landed long on the 4,500-foot Runway 22. Three other witnesses stated that the airplane landed just south of Taxiway "B," which was about 3,000 feet from the departure end of the runway. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector reported that both main landing gears had been ripped out of the wings, but that the brake lines were not ruptured. Hydraulic fluid on the cockpit floor, under the brake pedals, did not appear to be caused by the accident. Another FAA Inspector stated that he could not develop any brake pressure by pumping the pedals, and that both master cylinders were leaking. He also said that he finally obtained some brake pressure after pumping the emergency handle four times, and that there was air in the brake lines. On July 10, 1998, about 50 hours prior to the accident, maintenance was performed on the airplane which included bleeding the brake system and replenishing the reservoir. Weather observed immediately after the accident included winds from 050 degrees magnetic at 6 knots, visibility 3 statue miles in mist, and an overcast at 1,200 feet above ground level. The runway was wet, and the localizer approach utilized by the pilot was the only one available. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N800JK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N800JK-2007-05-02), registration cancelled 2007-05-02, S/N 34-7350215, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-34-R200 - Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200) (registry code 7103405) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34730215 - Airframe hours: 2234 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-C1E6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91 - Registered owner: Knipper Aviation, LLC. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 2, 1998, 61 hours before - Departed: ORH, WORCESTER, MA - Destination: CDW - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: CDW, Essex County Airport, runway 22, 4,553 × 80 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,780 total, 133 in this make and model, 2,630 as pilot in command, 185 in the last 90 days, 54 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 6 knots - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,200 ft overcast - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: CDW ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 19981009028919I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981009028919I), Oct 9, 1998: Piper PA34200, Caldwell, NJ, Substantial damage. Acft landed long, was unable to stop, ran off the end of the rwy. (-5)aircraft landed long; ram off the end of the runway sustaining major damage. Pilot 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.