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Atlas / NTSB / LAX89LA285

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event LAX89LA285

1989-08-22 FRESNO, California, United States Airport · FAT None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT.

Factual narrative

THE PILOT LANDED HIS CESSNA 185F ON THE ACTIVE RUNWAY AND DUE TO OTHER LANDING TRAFFIC ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE RUNWAY ON A HIGH SPEED TAXIWAY. THE PILOT APPLIED THE AIRCRAFT'S BRAKES, BUT THE LEFT BRAKE WAS NOT EFFECTIVE CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO GROUND LOOP. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE LEFT BRAKE MALFUNCTIONED. AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR INSPECTED AND TESTED THE LEFT BRAKE AND FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF A BRAKE FAILURE. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1989_LAX89LA285.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.