This April 2008 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Aircraft: Cessna 182. Injuries: None. Location: Porter, Texas. Aircraft damage: Substantial.
What reportedly happened: The pilot, who was attempting to land on a 3,594-foot asphalt runway, stated that as he was rolling out he applied the brakes and that the right brake “grabbed” but the left brake did not. The airplane veered to the right and went off the runway into a muddy area. The airplane’s nose wheel dug in and the airplane nosed over.
An FAA inspector, who examined the airplane after the accident, reported that the left brake was “spongy.”
Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of directional control due to the partial failure of the left brake.
For more information: NTSB.gov
