N4212J

On July 23, 1998, about 1715 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140, N4212J, registered to a private individual, was substantially damaged on landing at Gilliam McConnell Airstrip near Carthage, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The private-rated pilot, and one passenger were not injured. The flight originated about 1545 from the Gilliam McConnell Airstrip.

The pilot stated that after departure he performed airwork and one touch-and-go landing at the Moore County Airport, in Southern Pines, North Carolina. He departed that airport about 1650 and flew to the original departure airstrip where he overflew the airport and observed the windsock. He entered the traffic pattern to land on runway 31, turned base then final with the flaps fully extended. The airplane was landed about 300-350 feet down the 2,538-foot asphalt runway and he lightly applied the brakes, which felt "mushy." The airplane was not decelerating and he maneuvered the airplane onto grass off the left side of the runway, to slow the airplane, which was not effective. He maneuvered the airplane back onto the runway and with a depression at the departure end of the runway, he forcefully applied right brake, which caused the airplane to veer to the right. The airplane came to rest with the nose and left main landing gears collapsed.

Examination of the brake system by an FAA inspector revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. Operational check of the brakes was satisfactory.

A weather observation taken at 1715 from an airport located 6 nautical miles south-southeast of the accident airstrip indicates in part, that the wind was from 230 degrees at 14 knots.