- Date
- October 19, 2008, 09:15 local (16:15 UTC)
- Place
- Buckeye, AZ
- Injuries
- 7 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Defining events
- Taxi-to runway: Ground collisionStanding: Ground collision
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 24, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA reports
- 20081019850239A20081019850169A
- Case key
- 69311
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
Another airplanes total loss of wheel brakes while taxing which resulted in the pilot of the other aircraft colliding with a standing aircraft. Contributing to the accident was the other airplanes low brake hydraulic fluid.
A total loss of wheel brakes while taxiing. Contributing to the accident was low brake hydraulic fluid.
Findings · 5
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.
N87117 · Piper L-4
N4807F · Cessna TU206A
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.
N87117 · Piper L-4
N4807F · Cessna TU206A
Analysis
The pilot of a Piper L-4 airplane reported that shortly after he started the taxi roll from the parking area, he initiated a shallow turn toward the taxiway. As he reached the taxiway he steered to follow the centerline, however, the airplane continued to turn to the right. He reported, in part, that the left brake inputs were not responsive and the airplane continued to the right and collided with a standing occupied Cessna. Both airplanes sustained substantial damage, but neither the solo airline transport pilot of the Piper, or the commercial pilot and five passengers (skydivers) aboard the Cessna, were injured. Post accident examination of the Piper's brake assembly by inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration revealed no evidence of abnormal wear or fluid leaks. The inspectors performed a function test on the brake systems and reported the assemblies did not properly engage when the brake pedals were actuated. The inspectors reported that the brake fluid reservoirs were low. The right side reservoir contained approximately three-quarters of total capacity and the left side reservoir contained approximately one-half of total capacity.
The pilot of a Piper L-4 airplane reported that shortly after he started the taxi roll from the parking area, he initiated a shallow turn toward the taxiway. As he reached the taxiway he steered to follow the centerline, however, the airplane continued to turn to the right. He reported, in part, that the left brake inputs were not responsive and the airplane continued to the right and collided with a standing occupied Cessna. Both airplanes sustained substantial damage, but neither the solo airline transport pilot of the Piper, or the commercial pilot and five passengers (skydivers) aboard the Cessna, were injured. Post accident examination of the Piper's brake assembly by inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration revealed no evidence of abnormal wear or fluid leaks. The inspectors performed a function test on the brake systems and reported the assemblies did not properly engage when the brake pedals were actuated. The inspectors reported that the brake fluid reservoirs were low. The right side reservoir contained approximately three-quarters of total capacity and the left side reservoir contained approximately one-half of total capacity.
Factual narrative
The pilot of a Piper L-4 airplane reported that shortly after he started the taxi roll from the parking area, he initiated a shallow turn toward the taxiway. As he reached the taxiway he steered to follow the centerline, however, the airplane continued to turn to the right. He reported, in part, that the left brake inputs were not responsive and the airplane continued to the right and collided with a standing occupied Cessna. Both airplanes sustained substantial damage, but neither the solo airline transport pilot of the Piper, or the commercial pilot and five passengers (skydivers) aboard the Cessna, were injured. Post accident examination of the Piper's brake assembly by inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration revealed no evidence of abnormal wear or fluid leaks. The inspectors performed a function test on the brake systems and reported the assemblies did not properly engage when the brake pedals were actuated. The inspectors reported that the brake fluid reservoirs were low. The right side reservoir contained approximately three-quarters of total capacity and the left side reservoir contained approximately one-half of total capacity.
The pilot of a Piper L-4 airplane reported that shortly after he started the taxi roll from the parking area, he initiated a shallow turn toward the taxiway. As he reached the taxiway he steered to follow the centerline, however, the airplane continued to turn to the right. He reported, in part, that the left brake inputs were not responsive and the airplane continued to the right and collided with a standing occupied Cessna. Both airplanes sustained substantial damage, but neither the solo airline transport pilot of the Piper, or the commercial pilot and five passengers (skydivers) aboard the Cessna, were injured. Post accident examination of the Piper's brake assembly by inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration revealed no evidence of abnormal wear or fluid leaks. The inspectors performed a function test on the brake systems and reported the assemblies did not properly engage when the brake pedals were actuated. The inspectors reported that the brake fluid reservoirs were low. The right side reservoir contained approximately three-quarters of total capacity and the left side reservoir contained approximately one-half of total capacity.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N87117
- Reported as
- Piper L-4
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 13452
- Engine
- Continental A-65, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Pat Donovan
- Registered owner
- Pat Donovan
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 1, 2008
- Departed
- KBXK · Buckeye, AZ
- Destination
- Blythe, CA
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- KBXK · Buckeye Airport
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.
- Registration
- N4807F
- Reported as
- Cessna TU206A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- U206-0507
- Engine
- Cont Motor TSIO-520-C, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Skydiving · Part 91
- Operator
- Desert Skydiving Center
- Registered owner
- Winkler Jeffery L
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Unknown
- Departed
- KBXK · Buckeye, AZ
- Destination
- KBXK · Buckeye, AZ
- Airport
- KBXK · Buckeye Airport
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N87117
- Age
- 70
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight engineer, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 27, 2008
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 26,900 total · 73 in this make and model
- Role
- Other flight crew, aircraft N4807F
- Age
- 38
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 774 total · 12 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
FAA reports on this event · 2
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.