Edwards Air Force Base Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Edwards, California 93523
Thursday, November 16, 1995 9:00 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that the aircraft's brakes failed after taxiing from base operations to the runway, a distance of 2.1 miles. He exited the aircraft and noted brake fluid leaking onto the ground and smoke coming from the right wheel brake. He called for fire equipment and was walking to a ramp fire extinguisher when the right brake ignited. FAA inspectors subsequently reported that the right main landing gear had been involved in a fire which consumed the tire and wheel fairing, and burned a hole in the wing above. The left main landing gear and wheel, which did not burn, showed evidence of high temperature. The brake caliper was leaking fluid, the brake disk was distorted and discolored, and the tire sidewall was heat damaged in the area adjacent to the brake disk. The pilot attributed the fire to the parking brake master cylinder or parking brake linkage failure causing a minor binding of brakes. A lineman at the flight's point of origin reported having to help the pilot start the engine and that he could hear the brakes dragging as the aircraft taxied away.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to completely release the parking brakes prior to taxi, which produced a brake over temperature condition and brake fire.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/16/1995
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 900
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City EDWARDS
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93523
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID EDW
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 2302
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 855 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID EDW
Elevation of weather observation facility 2302
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 10000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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) 1952
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 16 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1420
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:43PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N92505
NTSB Number LAX96TA046
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28-181
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-181
Aircraft Serial Number 28-90211
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
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 Oct 12 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 18
Airframe Hours 481
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AVEX, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 205 DURLEY AVE. - STE A
Aircraft Owner City CAMARILLO
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93010
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name UNITED STATES NAVY
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address NAS PT. MUGU
Operator City POINT MUGU
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 93042
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) Public Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code EDW
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 900
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CMA
Destination City CAMARILLO
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi
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 22
Runway Length 15000
Runway Width 300
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --