Connellsville Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Connellsville, Pennsylvania 15425
Monday, August 28, 1995 8:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that during the landing roll, the right brake 'completely failed immediately,' but the left brake functioned and pulled the aircraft to the left. Right rudder application was unable to correct this, and the aircraft went off the left side of the runway and into a ditch. Examination of the brakes revealed 'no signs of visible fluid leakage or broken lines.' The brake master cylinder caps were removed to check for fluid. The right cylinder showed no sign of fluid, and the left showed very little sign of fluid. There were no leaks or mechanical discrepancies in the brake system.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Loss of braking action at the right brake, due to a low level of hydraulic fluid and inadequate maintenance, which resulted in the loss of aircraft control.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/28/1995
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 800
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City CONNELLSVILLE
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 15425
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CONNELLSVILLE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 2G3
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1265
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 12
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1798
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 6 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 930
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:31PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N511BD
NTSB Number NYC95LA218
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MARKWOOD
Aircraft Model BD-4
Aircraft Series Identifier BD-4
Aircraft Serial Number 511
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 5 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 200
Airframe Hours 750
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name KENNETH M. BERRY
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1325 4TH AVE.
Aircraft Owner City CONWAY
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 14027
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code ACY
Departure City ATLANTIC CITY
Departure State NJ
Departure Country
Departure Time 600
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 2G3
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 23
Runway Length 3458
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --