CALISTOGA, CA, USA
N360GG
Glaser-Dirks DG400
THE PILOT SAID, AND GROUND WITNESSES CONFIRMED, THAT HE LANDED IN A 15 KNOT TAILWIND ON THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY. WHEN THE PILOT APPLIED THE BRAKES TO STOP THE GLIDER, NO RESISTANCE WAS FELT ON THE BRAKE CONTROL HANDLE AND THE GLIDER WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. THE PILOT SAID THAT WHEN HE KNEW HE COULD NOT STOP PRIOR TO OVER RUNNING THE END OF THE RUNWAY HE STEERED THE AIRCRAFT TOWARD A WOODEN WALL OF A COMMERCIAL BUILDING INSTEAD OF LETTING THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUE TOWARD A CHAIN LINK FENCE. AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE EXPERIMENTAL GLIDER AND FOUND THAT A 1.6MM STEEL CABLE WHICH RUNS BETWEEN THE COCKPIT BRAKE HANDLE AND THE MAIN WHEEL BRAKE ACTUATOR HAD SEPARATED. THE INSPECTOR REPORTED THAT THE REASON FOR THE CABLE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.
THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKES DUE TO A SEPARATION OF THE BRAKE CABLE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE TAILWIND CONDITION DURING THE LANDING ROLLOUT.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
