Event LAX83LA244

Factual narrative

THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE RWY COLLIDED WITH A DITCH AND NOSED OVER DURING LANDING. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE DIED WHEN HE RETARDED IT TO IDLE AT TOUCHDOWN. WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES THE PEDALS HAD NO PRESSURE AND NO EFFECT. DUE TO A SLIGHT CROSSWIND AND 'LIMITED AUTHORITY TAILWHEEL' AS THE ACFT SLOWED IT BEGAN A RIGHT TURN DEPARTED THE RWY, HIT A DITCH AND NOSED OVER. THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS EXAMINED AND A LINE THAT FLEXES AS THE LANDING GEAR STRUT EXTENDS AND CONTRACTS WAS CRACKED. NO BRAKE FLUID WAS FOUND IN THE MASTER CYLINDER AND A NOTICEABLE AMOUNT OF FLUID WAS LOCATED ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE LINE IN THE AREA OF THE CRACK. THIS ACFT AIRFRAME HAD A TOTAL TIME OF 1335 HOURS. NO RECORD COULD BE FOUND ON THE AMOUNT OF TIME ON THE BRAKE LINE. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12