Buckeye Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Buckeye, Arizona 85326
Sunday, October 19, 2008 9:15 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot of a Piper L-4 airplane reported that shortly after he started the taxi roll from the parking area, he initiated a shallow turn toward the taxiway. As he reached the taxiway he steered to follow the centerline, however, the airplane continued to turn to the right. He reported, in part, that the left brake inputs were not responsive and the airplane continued to the right and collided with a standing occupied Cessna. Both airplanes sustained substantial damage, but neither the solo airline transport pilot of the Piper, or the commercial pilot and five passengers (skydivers) aboard the Cessna, were injured. Post accident examination of the Piper's brake assembly by inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration revealed no evidence of abnormal wear or fluid leaks. The inspectors performed a function test on the brake systems and reported the assemblies did not properly engage when the brake pedals were actuated. The inspectors reported that the brake fluid reservoirs were low. The right side reservoir contained approximately three-quarters of total capacity and the left side reservoir contained approximately one-half of total capacity.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A total loss of wheel brakes while taxiing. Contributing to the accident was low brake hydraulic fluid.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/19/2008
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 915
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Buckeye
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85326
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator --
On Ground Collision occurred ? Yes
Event Location Latitude 332513N
Event Location Longitude 1124110W
Event Location Airport Buckeye Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KBXK
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 7
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 24662
NTSB Notification Source FAA Com Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 22 2008 4:58PM
User who most recently changed record lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft #2

Aircraft Registration Number N87117 N4807F
NTSB Number WPR09CA017A WPR09CA017B
Missing Aircraft Indicator -- --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR None
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes --
Damage Substantial Substantial
Aircraft Fire None None
Aircraft Explosion None None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER CESSNA
Aircraft Model L-4 TU206A
Aircraft Series Identifier -- --
Aircraft Serial Number 13452 U206-0507
Certified Max Gross Weight -- --
Aircraft Category Airplane Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class -- --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No No
Flight Crew Seats 1 2
Cabin Crew Seats -- --
Passenger Seats 1 --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2 6
Number of Engines 1 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual --
Date of Last Inspection Oct 1 2008 12:00AM --
Airframe hours since last inspection -- --
Airframe Hours -- --
ELT Installed Yes Yes
ELT Activated No No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No No
ELT Type -- --
Aircraft Owner Name Pat Donovan WINKLER JEFFERY L
Aircraft Owner Street Address -- --
Aircraft Owner City Tucson BRUSH
Aircraft Owner State AZ CO
Aircraft Owner Country USA USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85704 80723-2213
Operator is an individual? No No
Operator Name Pat Donovan Desert Skydiving Center
Operator Same as Owner? Yes No
Operator Is Doing Business As -- --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes No
Operator Street Address -- --
Operator City Tucson Buckeye
Operator State AZ AZ
Operator Country USA USA
Operator Zip code 85704 85326
Operator Code -- --
Owner has at least one certificate None None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No No
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 Skydiving
Second Pilot on Board No No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes Yes
Departure Airport Code KBXK KBXK
Departure City Buckeye Buckeye
Departure State AZ AZ
Departure Country USA USA
Departure Time -- --
Departure Time Zone MST MST
Destination Same as Local Flt -- crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code -- KBXK
Destination City Blythe Buckeye
Destination State CA AZ
Destination Country USA USA
Specific Phase of Flight -- --
Report sent to ICAO? -- --
Evacuation occurred -- --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 21 2008 1:55PM Nov 19 2008 3:23PM
User who most recently changed record giuv stam
Since inspection or accident -- --
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A N/A
Runway Length -- --
Runway Width -- --
Sight Seeing flight No No
Air Medical Flight No No
Medical Flight -- --