N5962W

On May 30, 1998, at 1000 hours Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-150, N5962W, veered off the runway and collided with runway markers while landing at the Southern California International Airport in Victorville, California. The aircraft, owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The cross-country personal flight, conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, originated at the Hawthorne Municipal Airport, Hawthorne, California, about 0900, and was terminating at the time of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.

The pilot stated that the Victorville Automated Weather Observation Service (AWOS) was reporting calm winds. He entered a left downwind for runway 21 and was cleared to land. He reported that as he started the turn from base to final he felt a little crosswind from the west and compensated with rudder and aileron. The pilot stated that he seemed to be set up for a "perfect straight landing," but as he touched down, he felt a sudden bounce and pull to the left, so he applied right rudder. The aircraft became airborne again and veered to the left, hitting the 3K runway sign marker with the right wing.

The mechanic who repaired the aircraft following the accident reported that the left main gear brake had locked up. He stated that he examined the brake manifold and discovered that the washers were oversized, and were actually the washers for the fuel cell. The mechanic opined that the oversized washers could have caused the left brake to remain locked up even though the brakes were not being applied.