- Date
- September 25, 1995, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place
- Riverton, WY
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N10DFCessna 340
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 29, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950925047919A
- Case key
- 42257
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
a partial loss of hydraulic fluid in the left brake system rendering the left brake inoperative.
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
The pilot reported that while turning the airplane with power onto the runway for takeoff the left brake failed. The nose gear impacted a ditch, located in close proximity to the runway, and collapsed. Examination revealed that hydraulic brake fluid had leaked out of the left brake system. The source of the leakage was not found.
Factual narrative
On September 25, 1995, about 0830 mountain daylight time, N10DF, a Cessna 340, operated by American Check Transport, Inc., collided with a ditch during taxi and was substantially damaged in Riverton, Wyoming. The commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company flight plan had been filed. The cargo flight was destined for Worland, Wyoming, and was conducted under 14 CFR 135.
The pilot reported that the left brake "failed" as the airplane was taxiing for takeoff from runway 28 at the Riverton Regional Airport. The pilot stated:
About 30 - 50 yards from end of taxiway I discovered the left brake was [inoperative]. I attempted to make the 90 [degree] left turn to the runway but was unable and went off the taxiway about 10 - 12 feet where there was a ditch. The nose wheel [collapsed] when it hit the ditch [and] the nose of the aircraft was damaged....
The pilot also stated that he attempted to turn the airplane with power onto the runway when the failure occurred.
An FAA aviation safety inspector from Casper, Wyoming, examined the airplane. He reported that the underside of the fuselage structure was substantially damaged. He also reported that hydraulic brake fluid had "leaked out" of the left brake system prior to impact with the ditch, and there was not enough fluid left to operate the brake. The inspector was unable to determine the source or cause of the leak.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N10DF
- Reported as
- Cessna 340
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 3400197
- Airframe hours
- 4,187
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-520-J, 310 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- American Check Transport, Inc., doing business as Flight Line, Inc.
- Registered owner
- James Town Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · September 23, 1995 · 5 hours before
- Destination
- WRL · Worland, WY
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Airport
- RIW · Riverton Regional, runway 28, 8,202 × 150 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 35
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 4,000 total · 100 in this make and model · 3,900 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 45 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- RIW
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.