Harvey Airfield Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Snohomish, Washington 98290
Sunday, July 11, 1999 20:10 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that the touchdown and rollout were normal for about 300 feet. The pilot stated that as he applied the brakes, the left brake failed and the airplane swerved to the right and off the side of the runway. Due to people and equipment near the runway, and in the aircraft's path, the pilot utilized nose wheel steering and right throttle control to redirect the aircraft. The aircraft continued about 80 feet over freshly graded terrain before entering an open field covered with tall grass. The aircraft collided with a ditch and subsequently an abandoned truck before coming to rest. Shortly after the accident, the brake system was inspected. It was found that the left brake pedal would make full travel with no apparent braking action. After applying pumping action, there was a gradual rise of the pedal and braking action. Further inspection of the system did not reveal any mechanical failures or malfunctions. The brake lines were then bled and a considerable amount of air bubbles were noted.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Brake system failure due to the presence of air bubbles in the hydraulic fluid.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/11/1999
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 2010
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City SNOHOMISH
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98290
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport HARVEY AIRFIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID S43
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 16
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) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
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 6
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1016
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 12 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 840
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jan 23 2001 9:44AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N65PR
NTSB Number SEA99LA131
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire Unknown
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-23-250
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-23-250
Aircraft Serial Number 277405289
Certified Max Gross Weight 5200
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 May 28 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SKYCRAB AIRCRAFT SALES INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1384 SW KALAMA LOOP
Aircraft Owner City OAK HARBOR
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98277
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WILLIAM P. MORGAN
Operator Same as Owner? No
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 2S8
Departure City WILBUR
Departure State WA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1700
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code S43
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 23 2001 11:29AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 32
Runway Length 2660
Runway Width 36
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --