Essex County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Caldwell, New Jersey 07006
Friday, October 9, 1998 18:03 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was cleared for the option after flying the only available localizer approach through a 1,200-foot overcast. She opted to land straight ahead with a 6-knot tailwind, and landed about 1,500 feet down the 4,500 foot runway. During the rollout, the pilot found she had almost no toe brake pressure, and when she attempted to pump up brake pressure through an emergency handle, there was still no pressure of any significance. The airplane rolled off the end of the runway, and into a brook. Wreckage examination revealed no ruptures of the hydraulic lines, some hydraulic fluid pooled under the rudder pedals, and leaks from both brake cylinders. No brake pressure could be established using the toe brakes, and the emergency hand brake had to be pumped four times before any toe brake pressure developed. Airplane maintenance had been performed three months earlier, which included bleeding the brake system and replenishing the reservoir.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of both the normal and emergency brake systems.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/9/1998
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1803
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City CALDWELL
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 07006
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport ESSEX COUNTY AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CDW
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 173
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1807 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID CDW
Elevation of weather observation facility 173
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1200
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 3
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 15
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 50
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1218
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 28 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1300
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Feb 23 2001 1:57PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N800JK
NTSB Number NYC99LA019
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-34-R200
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-34-R200
Aircraft Serial Number 34730215
Certified Max Gross Weight 4200
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 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 2 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 61
Airframe Hours 2234
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name KNIPPER AVIATION, LLC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1645 OAK STREET
Aircraft Owner City LAKEWOOD
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 08701
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) Executive/Corporate
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code ORH
Departure City WORCESTER
Departure State MA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code CDW
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 23 2001 1:57PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 22
Runway Length 4553
Runway Width 80
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --