NTSB Factual Report

On July 25, 2013, about 1100 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 180H airplane, N28RR, impacted the ground after landing at the Putnam County Airport (4I7), Greencastle, Indiana. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar and the left horizontal stabilizer spar. The airplane was registered to and operated by Quinet Life and Casualty Corporation under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight which operated without a flight plan. The flight originated from Sheridan Airport (5I4), Sheridan, Indiana, at 1030 and was destined for 4I7.

According to the pilot, he stated that when the airplane touched down on the runway and the brakes were applied, he heard a "metal clanging noise"; the airplane immediately made a hard right turn, exited the runway, and tipped over on the left wing. According to the responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, this was the pilot's first landing on an asphalt surface since the brakes had been serviced and that his previous landings had all been on grass strips. The right wheel brake pads were replaced on May 10, 2013.

According to the airport manager who was a witness to the landing, the pilot made a normal landing on the runway. He looked away for a minute and then heard a crash. He spoke with the pilot after the accident; the pilot stated that the right brake "chattered" and made a sharp right turn.

A postaccident examination was conducted by the FAA inspector. The right brake assembly was disassembled and no preaccident malfunctions or anomalies were found with the brake, its associated brake lines, or the master cylinder.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's excessive application of the right brake during the landing, which resulted in a runway excursion.