STATESBORO, GA, USA
N4925Q
Cessna A188B
The pilot departed with a known history of brake fluid problems with the left brake cylinder. On landing rollout the airplane started to veer to the right. The pilot applied brakes and rudder. The rudder went to the floor. The pilot experienced a loss of directional control. The left main tire blew out, and the airplane ground looped to the right. The left wing, strut, and tail section collided with the ground. Examination of the runway revealed tire skid marks. Examination of the left brake cylinder revealed signs of previous leakage, and the brake cylinder was empty.
On October 15, 1998, at about 1459 eastern daylight time, a Cessna A188B, N4925Q, registered to J & M Flying Service Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight, crashed on landing rollout at the Statesboro Municipal Airport, Statesboro, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot reported minor injuries. The flight originated from a private airstrip about 59 minutes before the accident. The pilot stated the left brake reservoir had been leaking and was serviced the day before the accident. He did not notice any leaks during the preflight inspection of the airplane before departing from the private airstrip. The airplane started to veer to the right on landing rollout. He applied left brake and rudder. The rudder pedal went all the way down to the floor. The airplane continued to veer to the right. The left main landing gear blew and the left wing, left strut, and tail section collided with the ground as the airplane ground looped to the right. According to the FAA, " aircraft tire skid marks were imprinted on the runway and evidence of flutter marks illustrate the failure of the left brake. On initial inspection the left brake cylinder was empty and the brake assembly showed signs of previous leakage."
The pilot's decision to attempt a flight with an unairworthy condition (leaky brake) and improper use of brakes on landing rollout. This resulted in a loss of brake fluid, directional control, ground loop, and on ground collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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