NTSB Factual Report

On July 25, 2003, about 1950 central daylight time, an Aero-Commander 100, N4103X, was destroyed when it impacted a ravine and nosed over during an aborted landing at Fulton Airport (1M7), Fulton, Kentucky. The certificated private pilot received minor injuries and the passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the airplane was not operating on a flight plan. The local personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot, during the taxi and engine run-up the brakes were working properly. About 1900, he departed Fulton Airport for Everett-Stewart Airport (UCY), Union City, Tennessee. At Union City, the pilot performed a "touch-and-go" landing but did not use the brakes. Upon returning to Fulton, the pilot landed normally on runway 27, except that "the aircraft seemed to not want to settle to the runway." When the pilot applied the brakes, they did not work. The pilot also tried pumping the brakes to no avail. The pilot attempted to abort the landing and applied full power. The airplane departed the end of the runway and impacted a ravine. Upon impact, the airplane "flipped on it's back." The pilot unlatched his passenger's seatbelt and they both exited the airplane.

Two Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors examined the airplane after it had been removed from the accident site. The inspectors noted that one of the brake's disc pads was missing, and was never located. Due to the fact that the airplane had sustained significant impact damage, and had been moved from the accident site, they could not determine if or how the brakes failed. A review of the airplane's maintenance history revealed no discrepancies or recent work to the breaks.

Runway 27 at Fulton Airport was an asphalt runway 2,700 feet long and 60 feet wide.

According to the pilot, the winds at the time of the accident were calm.

NTSB Probable Cause

The malfunction of the brake system and the pilot's delay in aborting the landing.