Lockheed 12 N2072

Summary

On 17 June 2024 at about 23:49 local time, a Lockheed 12 registered N2072 was involved in an accident near Jackson, Georgia, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 June 2024 at 23:49

Classification

Accident

Location

Jackson, Georgia, United States

Nearest airport

Seven Lakes Airport (62GA)

Coordinates

33.3249, -83.9165

Aircraft

Lockheed 12

Registration

N2072

Category

Airplane

Year built

1936

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA24FA266

3 people were seriously injured.

Maintenance personnel’s failure to properly secure the right brake line, which resulted in a loss of right brake effectiveness during the landing roll and a subsequent runway excursion.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that, 10 days before the accident, the tailwheel-equipped airplane underwent maintenance on the right main landing gear strut, which required disconnection and subsequent reinstallation of the right brake line. Following the maintenance of the strut, the brake system was serviced and no anomalies or leaks were observed. The pilot reported that the preflight inspection, engine run-up, and flight were uneventful; however, during the landing roll, the right brake pedal became ineffective. The airplane then veered left, departed the runway, and subsequently impacted a tree. The pilot and two passengers were seriously injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right brake line fitting had loosened near a section of the landing gear assembly that flexed during gear movement. The brake line B-nut fitting was found finger-tight, and hydraulic fluid residue was observed on and around the B-nut fitting mount, consistent with hydraulic fluid leakage. Because the airplane required differential braking for directional control during ground operations, the ineffective right brake limited the pilot’s ability to maintain directional control, resulting in a runway excursion during the landing roll.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.