Laconia Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Laconia, New Hampshire 03060
Saturday, December 13, 2003 15:15 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, as the airplane touched down on the runway, he observed that the right brake was not functioning. The pilot attempted to move his leg over to the right seat rudder pedals in an effort to use the brakes on that side; however, during the process, he inadvertently pushed the throttle to the full forward position with his knee. The airplane then departed the left side of the runway, proceeded over a grass area, over an embankment, and came to rest nose low in a swamp. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the brake master cylinder had failed.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control after experiencing a brake failure. A factor related to the accident was the failure of the brake master cylinder.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/13/2003
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1515
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Laconia
Event State NEW HAMPSHIRE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 03060
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 424700N
Event Location Longitude 0713100W
Event Location Airport Laconia Municipal
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LCI
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 545
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1515 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID LCI
Elevation of weather observation facility 545
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -6
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -20
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 16
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.31
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 17044
NTSB Notification Source PWM FSDO
NTSB Notification Date Dec 15 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 28 2004 12:45PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Portland, ME

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3116V
NTSB Number NYC04LA048
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model 35
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number D-539
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 Sep 18 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 12
Airframe Hours 1176
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Jill R. Cuni
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Portland
Aircraft Owner State ME
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 04103
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 ASH
Departure City Nashua
Departure State NH
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1445
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code LCI
Destination City Laconia
Destination State NH
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - roll
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Nov 9 2004 12:42PM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 26
Runway Length 5286
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --