Champion 7EC N4306C

Summary

On 10 November 2004 at about 16:40 local time, a Champion 7EC registered N4306C was involved in an accident near Clarksburg, West Virginia, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 November 2004 at 16:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Clarksburg, West Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Harrison/Marion (CKB)

Coordinates

38.3731, -81.5931

Aircraft

Champion 7EC

Registration

N4306C

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Clarksburg → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD05LA011

1 person was seriously injured.

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

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.