# NTSB WPR25LA178: Piper PA-28R-200, N9404N, Vancouver, WA, April 4, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 4, 2025, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Vancouver, WA - Coordinates: 45.592025, -122.59268 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5920&lon=-122.5927&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 200334 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA178 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200334/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200334 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA178 ## Probable cause A failure of the brake system during landing due to a hydraulic fluid leak, which resulted in a runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md) - [Fluids: hydraulic fluid](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071015): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071015/cases.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-200, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102811), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during a test flight following an annual inspection, he landed normally, but the brakes faded almost immediately after he applied them. The pilot exited the runway, and the airplane collided with a fence, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. Postaccident examination of the brake system revealed a small leak at the brake line fitting at the left caliper and the brake fluid reservoir was 2/3 empty. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9404N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9404N), registered now, S/N 28R-35115, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-200 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-35115 - Year built: 1969 - Airframe hours: 3000 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 27, 2025 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: VUO, Pearson Filed Airport, runway 08, 3,200 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, Stall warning system, Handheld GPS, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 76; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 5, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,875 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 2,220 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: KVUO, 3 nm away - METAR: METAR KVUO 050053Z AUTO VRB05KT 10SM CLR 21/02 A3025 RMK AO2 SLP245 T02060017 ## 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 20250404007249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250404007249A), Apr 4, 2025: Piper PA-28R-200, Vancouver, WA, Substantial damage. At about 4:00 pm local time on 4 April 2025 the aircraft [privacy data omitted] took off on runway 08 at vuo to perform a post-annual check flight. No… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 18, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200334. 3.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19230849&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6.25.25%20NTSB%20Form%206120%20-%20(1)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 460 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19024091&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos%20for%20WPR25LA178-Rel.pdf 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.