Piper L-4 N87117
19 October 2008 · Buckeye, Arizona, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 19 October 2008 at about 16:15 local time, a Piper L-4 registered N87117, operated by Pat Donovan, was involved in an accident near Buckeye, Arizona, United States. 7 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 16:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Buckeye, Arizona, United States
- Nearest airport
- Buckeye Airport (KBXK)
- Coordinates
- 33.4203, -112.6861
- Aircraft
- Piper L-4
- Registration
- N87117
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Pat Donovan
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Buckeye → Blythe
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- WPR09CA017
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Probable cause
A total loss of wheel brakes while taxiing. Contributing to the accident was low brake hydraulic fluid.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
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.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Aircraft involved
| Aircraft | Registration | Operator | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piper L-4 | N87117 | Pat Donovan | Substantial |
| Cessna TU206A | N4807F | Desert Skydiving Center | Substantial |
Other Piper L-4 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Apr 1968 | Piper L-4 | Shelton, Washington, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 24 Nov 1966 | Piper L-4 | Guntersville Ala, Alabama, United States | Ala.wing C.a.p | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 May 2008 | Cessna 152 | Glendale, Arizona, United States | Air Safety Flight Academy | No injuries | - |
| 17 Aug 2008 | Aeros VENTURE | Maricopa, Arizona, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 14 Mar 2008 | Beechcraft C23 | Marble Canyon, Arizona, United States | Russell L. Gardner | No injuries | - |
| 15 Mar 2008 | Piper PA-28-181 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | Pan AM International Flight Academy | No injuries | - |
| 18 Mar 2008 | Cessna 150L | Mesa, Arizona, United States | Arizona Aviation | Minor injuries | - |
| 11 Oct 2008 | Bell 47J-2A | Florence, Arizona, United States | Loflite LLC | No injuries | - |