N5301E

On October 28, 1999, approximately 1900 central daylight time, a Cessna 172M airplane, N5301E, was substantially damaged when it impacted a ditch and a fence during landing roll at the Pineville Municipal Airport, Pineville, Louisiana. The airplane was owned by Hartford Holding Group of Wilmington, Delaware, and was operated by Most High Aviation of Pineville, Louisiana. The student pilot, sole occupant, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 solo instructional flight. A flight plan was not filed for the local flight, which originated from the Pineville Municipal Airport at 1730.

According to the student pilot's statement, he had made several full stop landings on runway 36, a 3,000 foot asphalt runway. The student pilot stated that he applied the brakes after touchdown, but "did not feel the airplane slowing down." He executed a "short-field landing technique (pulled back on the yoke while pressing brake pedals)." The student pilot "then tried applying brakes again." The airplane exited the north end of the runway, went down an embankment, and struck a ditch. Subsequently, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane slid into a fence.

A witness stated that on the approach, the student pilot "came in high and fast with no flaps." The student pilot made "a good flare and touched down on the mains; shortly before the 2nd 1000 foot marker." The witness "heard him braking the aircraft as the tires skidded 2 or 3 times."

The FAA inspector traced the tire marks from the initial touchdown point to where the airplane came to rest. The airplane's initial touchdown point was approximately 900 feet from the departure end of runway 36. The FAA inspector observed "three flat spots" on the right main landing gear tire.

The operator stated that the left wing spar was damaged and the firewall was buckled. The operator's Director of Maintenance examined the brakes and reported that the left brake was "operating normally" and the right brake was "soft with no movement at the brake caliper." Both right brake pads were found to be worn beyond limits. However, evidence of flat spots on the right main landing gear tire led the Director of Maintenance to "believe the right brake as well as the left were working properly at the time of the accident."