Summary
On June 24, 1995, a Piper PA-34-200 (N56484) was involved in an incident near Avalon, CA. All 3 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: Complete brake failure due to improper replacement and service of the brakes by company maintenance personnel.
On June 24, 1995, at 1150 hours Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-34-200, N56484, overran runway 22 while landing and collided with a fence at Catalina Airport, Avalon, California. The aircraft was operated by Aero Club of Van Nuys, California, and was rented by the pilot for a personal cross-country flight to Catalina Island. The airplane was substantially damaged and the certificated airline transport pilot and his two passengers were not injured. The flight originated at Van Nuys, California, on the day of the accident at 1100.
This incident is documented in NTSB report LAX95LA230. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N56484.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
complete brake failure due to improper replacement and service of the brakes by company maintenance personnel.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On June 24, 1995, at 1150 hours Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-34-200, N56484, overran runway 22 while landing and collided with a fence at Catalina Airport, Avalon, California. The aircraft was operated by Aero Club of Van Nuys, California, and was rented by the pilot for a personal cross-country flight to Catalina Island. The airplane was substantially damaged and the certificated airline transport pilot and his two passengers were not injured. The flight originated at Van Nuys, California, on the day of the accident at 1100. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.
In a verbal statement, the pilot reported that after touchdown he experienced a brake failure and could not stop the aircraft prior to overrunning the 3,240-foot-long runway and colliding with a boundary fence.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspectors examined the airplane and found that the hydraulic reservoir was 3/4 full, and the brake pads looked new. He also reported that the brake pedals were spongy and would go to the floor. He also stated that there was air in the brake lines.
In a telephone interview, the owner of Aero Club stated that the brakes were replaced and serviced on June 23, 1995. The accident flight was the first one since the work on the brakes was accomplished.
Neither the pilot nor the operator responded to repeated written and telephone requests to complete a National Transportation Safety Board Pilot Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# LAX95LA230