Harrison/Marion Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Clarksburg, West Virginia 26301
Wednesday, November 10, 2004 11:40 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While taxiing the airplane, the pilot reported to the tower controller that he "couldn't find the brakes." Instead of turning right, toward the runway, the airplane went straight off the end of the taxiway, down a 60-foot embankment, and impacted rocks at the bottom of a drainage ditch. During a post-accident examination, the right main landing gear was found bent up under the airplane; however, there was no visible damage to the braking system. The left main landing gear brake was tested, and functioned normally. The brake pedals were "rather small," and were operated by the pilot's heels instead of the more conventional toe brakes.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inability to operate the airplane's brake pedals which resulted in the loss of aircraft control.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/10/2004
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1140
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Clarksburg
Event State WEST VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 26301
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 382223N
Event Location Longitude 0813535W
Event Location Airport Harrison/Marion
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CKB
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 1217
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1153 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID CKB
Elevation of weather observation facility 1217
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) 15
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.41
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 17732
NTSB Notification Source FAA FSDO
NTSB Notification Date Nov 10 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1330
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 8 2005 12:51PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Charleston

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4306C
NTSB Number IAD05LA011
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 Champion
Aircraft Model 7EC
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 306
Certified Max Gross Weight 1450
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 8 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 15
Airframe Hours 2322
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Melvin J. Vorbach
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Romney
Aircraft Owner State WV
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 26757
Operator is an individual? Yes
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code CKB
Departure City Clarksburg
Departure State WV
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Apr 4 2005 2:26PM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 21
Runway Length 7000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --