NTSB Factual Report

On July 7, 2003, about 1700 Alaska daylight time, a Beech 58 airplane, N3178A, sustained substantial damage when the left main landing gear collapsed during landing at the Hoonah Airport, Hoonah, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) positioning flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, by JAC, INC. of Hoonah when the accident occurred. The solo airline transport pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company VFR flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Juneau Airport, Juneau, Alaska, about 1645.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on July 9, the pilot said he made a normal landing at Hoonah. He said that during the landing roll, the airplane veered sharply to the left, and he applied hard right brake and right rudder to maintain runway heading. The left main landing gear subsequently collapsed, and the airplane came to rest on the left edge of the runway. The pilot said he found heavy left main wheel skid marks on the runway, and a State of Alaska Department of Transportation worker located parts of the left brake assembly on the runway, 300 feet from the airplane. The left wing, left nacelle, and left main landing gear of the airplane were damaged in the accident.

A subsequent examination of the airplane's brakes by maintenance personnel failed to disclose the reason the left brake failed.

NTSB Probable Cause

The locking of the left brake during the landing roll, which resulted in the collapse of the left main landing gear.