CHI00LA219

Factual narrative

On July 1, 2000, at 1645 eastern standard time, an amateur built McCann Wheeler Express/FT, N521MC, piloted by a commercial pilot was substantially damaged during contact with a parked airplane and the airport perimeter fence while landing on runway 13 (2,910 feet by 100 feet, asphalt) at the Smith Field Airport, Fort Wayne, Indiana. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and was operating on an instrument flight rules flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot reported no injuries to himself or his one passenger. The flight departed the Allen County Airport, Iola, Kansas at 1330. In a written statement the pilot said that, "after touchdown I tapped [the] brakes lightly and got no response. I applied heavier pressure but got no brakes other than very light response." The airplane went off the end of the runway and across the parking ramp striking a parked airplane and the airport perimeter fence. The parked airplane received minor damage to the left aileron. A postaccident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector revealed that a support bar installed above the brake pedals could restrict the brake travel. The inspector said that this condition was noticed when his feet were raised about 2 inches above the cockpit floor. No other anomalies were found that could be associated with a preexisting condition. The airplane was landing when it ran off the end of the runway and struck a parked airplane and the airport perimeter fence. The pilot said that, "after touchdown I tapped [the] brakes lightly and got no response. I applied heavier pressure but got no brakes other than very light response." The airplane went off the end of the runway and across the parking ramp striking a parked airplane and the airport perimeter fence. The parked airplane received minor damage to the left aileron. A postaccident examination revealed that the brake travel was restricted by a support bar installed above the brake pedals. No other anomalies were found that could be associated with a preexisting condition. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12