SEA00LA195

Factual narrative

On September 30, 2000, a Boeing E75, N8528N, was substantially damaged when it taxied into a parked and unoccupied Cessna aircraft, N738DT, while taxiing for takeoff at McNary Field, Salem, Oregon. The private pilot-in-command, who owned the aircraft and was its sole occupant, was not injured in the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the intended 14 CFR 91 local personal flight. The pilot reported that 45 minutes before the accident, he had washed the aircraft's engine with water and engine cleaner and that he intended to dry the engine by flying once around the local traffic pattern. The pilot stated that "as [the] taxi progressed [the] brakes became progressively non functional and [the] aircraft began a slow turn to the left aided by a strong tailwind." The pilot reported that attempts to stop the aircraft and to maintain directional control by braking were ineffective "in spite of VERY strong pedal pressure" (emphasis in original). The pilot stated that power was at idle when the continuing turn ended in a collision with the parked Cessna at about 4 MPH. The pilot stated that the aircraft's brakes became wet during taxi. Documentation furnished by the pilot indicated that the aircraft's last annual inspection signoff was on March 15, 2000. The pilot reported that 45 minutes before the accident, he had washed the aircraft's engine with water and engine cleaner and that he intended to dry the engine by flying once around the local traffic pattern. The pilot stated that 'as [the] taxi progressed [the] brakes became progressively non functional and [the] aircraft began a slow turn to the left aided by a strong tailwind.' The pilot reported that attempts to stop the aircraft and to maintain directional control by braking were ineffective 'in spite of VERY strong pedal pressure' (emphasis in original). The pilot stated that power was at idle when the continuing turn ended in a collision with a parked and unoccupied Cessna airplane at about 4 MPH. The pilot stated that the aircraft's brakes became wet during taxi. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12