Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Macon County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Franklin, North Carolina 28734
Thursday, October 17, 2013 12:30 EDT
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
On October 17, 2013 about 1230 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-31-350, N555GK, operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged while landing at Macon County Airport (1A5) Franklin, North Carolina. The airline transport pilot and seven passengers were not injured. The flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight plan was filed for the flight that departed Flagler County Airport (XFL) Palm Coast, Florida at 1100.
The pilot stated that during the pre-flight inspection of the airplane, both the left and right brake reservoirs were checked for proper servicing and were found to be ready for flight. While landing at 1A5, the pilot selected the gear to the "DOWN" position, verified the proper pressures on the left and right brake systems, and continued the approach. As the airplane touched down, he applied the brakes and the left brake depressed all the way to the floor. The pilot utilized left rudder and minimal usage of the right brake to stay on runway centerline. At 20 knots, the right brake "locked up" and the airplane departed the right side of the runway.
Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the left winglet and to the left wing leading edge spar. The FAA inspector also reported that the left wheel assembly had a pool of red fluid on the ground that was consistent with aviation brake fluid, and that the left wheel brake reservoir was empty.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
Not Yet Reported
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 10/17/2013 |
| Event Day of the Week | Thursday |
| Time of Event | 1230 |
| Event Time Zone | Eastern Daylight Time |
| Event City | Franklin |
| Event State | NORTH CAROLINA |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 28734 |
| Event Date Year | 2013 |
| Event Date Month | 10 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 351320N |
| Event Location Longitude | 0832512W |
| Event Location Airport | Macon County Airport |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | 1A5 |
| Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport | On Airport |
| Distance from airport in statute miles | 0 |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | 0 |
| Airport Elevation | 2034 |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | -- |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 1235 Eastern Daylight Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 0 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | 1A5 |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 2043 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 0 |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | EDT |
| Lighting Conditions | Day |
| Lowest Ceiling Height | 1700 |
| Lowest Non-Ceiling Height | 1700 |
| Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions | Thin Broken |
| Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling | Overcast |
| Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) | -- |
| Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) | -- |
| Visibility (Statute Miles) | 7 |
| Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) | 17 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | 16 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 0 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Wind direction could be determined |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 0 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Not Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | -- |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 29.98 |
| 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 | 8 |
| Injury Total Serious | -- |
| Injury Total All | -- |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | -- |
| NTSB Notification Source | FAA Southern C-ROC |
| NTSB Notification Date | -- |
| NTSB Notification Time | -- |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Nov 7 2013 2:04PM |
| User who most recently changed record | kenj |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | -- |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N555GK |
| NTSB Number | ERA14LA022 |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | -- |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Part 91: General Aviation |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | IFR |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | Yes |
| Damage | Substantial |
| Aircraft Fire | None |
| Aircraft Explosion | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | PIPER |
| Aircraft Model | PA 31-350 |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | 350 |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 31-7405456 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 7000 |
| Aircraft Category | Airplane |
| Aircraft Registration Class | -- |
| Aircraft is a homebuilt? | No |
| Flight Crew Seats | 2 |
| Cabin Crew Seats | -- |
| Passenger Seats | 8 |
| Total number of seats on the aircraft | 10 |
| Number of Engines | 2 |
| Fixed gear or retractable gear | Fixed |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | Annual |
| Date of Last Inspection | Jul 9 2013 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | 22 |
| Airframe Hours | 7574 |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | No |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | Unknown |
| ELT Type | Unknown |
| Aircraft Owner Name | LUNSFORD AIR CONSULTING INC |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | -- |
| Aircraft Owner City | ORMOND BEACH |
| Aircraft Owner State | FL |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 321730996 |
| Operator is an individual? | No |
| Operator Name | LUNSFORD AIR CONSULTING INC |
| Operator Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Street Address | -- |
| Operator City | ORMOND BEACH |
| Operator State | FL |
| Operator Country | USA |
| Operator Zip code | 321730996 |
| 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 | YFL |
| Departure City | Palm Coast |
| Departure State | FL |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 1100 |
| Departure Time Zone | EDT |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | crash at destination city |
| Destination Airport Code | 1A5 |
| Destination City | Franklin |
| Destination State | NC |
| Destination Country | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | -- |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Nov 7 2013 2:04PM |
| User who most recently changed record | kenj |
| Since inspection or accident | Time of Accident |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | 25 |
| Runway Length | 5000 |
| Runway Width | 75 |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |