NTSB Factual Report

On August 22, 2003, at 1333 eastern daylight time, a Stinson 108-2, N936D, registered to a private owner and operated by the pilot, locked one brake and nosed over during landing roll at Camilla Mitchell County Airport in Camilla, Georgia. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The private pilot was not injured, the passenger received minor injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from Kendall Tamiami Executive Airport in Miami, Florida, about 1000 on August 22, 2003.

The pilot stated he just purchased the airplane in Miami, Florida, and was flying it home. The flight was en route to Caldwell, Idaho, and had made a fuel stop in Ocala, Florida. When the airplane touched down on runway 8 at Camilla Mitchell County Airport, Camilla, Georgia, it jerked hard to the left and veered left. The pilot's attempts to control the airplane were unsuccessful, and the airplane continued off the side of the runway into the grass and nosed over.

The airplane was found inverted approximately 30 feet to the left of runway 8, approximately 1,500 feet from the runway threshold. A single black skid mark originated near the runway centerline and extended to the left side of the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed the wings were wrinkled, the wing struts were bent, and the vertical stabilizer and rudder were damaged. The engine was displaced, the propeller was bent, and the fuselage was buckled near the firewall. The left main wheel could not be turned by hand.

Examination of the airplane at a recovery facility revealed the brake pads for both the left and right main wheels had been removed after the accident. Both main tires were inflated and showed no evidence of gouging or abnormal tread wear. The brake assemblies for each main wheel were found attached to their hydraulic lines, and the brake pads were found inside the cabin of the airplane. The bolt holes in the brake assembly and the bolts for securing the pads to the assemblies displayed shiny threads with no evidence of stripping. The piston for the left brake assembly was partially extended and could not be pushed in by hand. The base of the exposed area of the piston was shiny around its circumference, and the upper circumference of the exposed area was rust-colored. The top portion of the left brake assembly and the upper portion of the left piston face were rust-colored with rough, dark brown debris adhered to both surfaces. The piston for the right brake assembly was partially extended and could not be pushed in by hand.

A review of Federal Aviation Administration records revealed a Bill of Sale dated August 22, 2003, listed the pilot and passenger as purchasers. A review of maintenance records for the airplane revealed an annual inspection was completed on August 3, 2003, at a tachometer reading of 1636.0. A maintenance entry dated March 17, 2000, recorded the tachometer reading as 1620.0. The tachometer reading on the airplane at the accident site was 1638.7.

NTSB Probable Cause

The malfunction (locking) of the left brake piston during the landing roll, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent nose over.