Piper PA-22-150 accident near Augusta, Kansas, July 21, 2012
On July 21, 2012 at about 4:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N4749A, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Augusta, Kansas (Augusta Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of brake effectiveness on landing roll for reasons that could not be determined because a postaccident brake system examination did not reveal any anomalies, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 21, 2012 · about 4:20 pm local time
- Place
- Augusta, Kansas · Augusta Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N4749A · no longer on the register · serial 22-3894
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the preflight run-up was uneventful and that the brakes worked normally at that time. After takeoff, she remained in the airport traffic pattern and returned for a full stop landing. The approach and landing were normal; however, during the landing roll, the brakes were completely ineffective. Upon reaching the end of the runway, the pilot thought that the airplane was still traveling too fast to safely turn onto the taxiway. She elected to overrun the end of the runway, and the airplane encountered a concrete culvert. A postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a brake system failure. However, the main landing gear tires did not exhibit any flat areas indicative of a skidding tire nor were any skid marks corresponding to the accident airplane observed on the runway pavement.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear brakes system › Inoperative
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 135 hours in all; 96 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 36 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 18, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,154 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 21, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3AU Augusta KS at 4:15 pm
- Destination: 3AU Augusta KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 4,201 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 4:54 pm from AAO, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on August 24, 2012. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Conversation Record -- FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Airplane Maintenance Records -- Excerpts | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.