NTSB Factual Report

On February 21, 2018, about 1045 Pacific standard time, an experimental Soko Galeb G-2, N90SR, sustained substantial damage when it collided with a drainage ditch berm during landing at the Elko Regional Airport (EKO), Elko, Nevada. The Airline Transport pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained serious injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight. The flight originated from Reno/Stead Airport, Reno, Nevada, about 1015.

According to the pilot, shortly after the landing, the airplane's left brake failed, and he elected to go around and set up for a short field landing. The subsequent landing was uneventful, and the left brake was still inoperative. During the landing roll, the pilot was unsure if the airplane had sufficiently slowed down and elected to veer off the runway to the right, to avoid going off the end of the runway. Subsequently, the airplane struck an elevated drainage ditch berm, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage.

The landing runway 06, was 7,454 ft in length, and the asphalt surface was dry. At 1056, the wind was reported as calm.

The airplane will be recovered to a secure storage facility for further examination.