Piper PA-22-150 accident near Grain Valley, Missouri, April 14, 2001
On April 14, 2001 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N3021Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grain Valley, Missouri (East Kansas City airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The normal brake system was inoperative due to undetermined reasons. A factor associated with the accident was the ditch that the airplane encountered.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 14, 2001 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Grain Valley, Missouri · East Kansas City · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N3021Z · registry record · serial 22-6974
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane collided with the terrain and nosed over following a loss of brake pressure while taxiing for takeoff. He reported that the brakes did not work when he applied them to slow the airplane in order to turn around for takeoff after back taxiing on the runway. The airplane traveled off the side of the runway and continued downhill into a ditch where it rolled onto the right wing. The pilot stated that he applied the parking brake when the airplane was being fueled and the brakes worked properly at that time and when he performed the engine run-up. No brake fluid was found on the hangar floor where the airplane was kept, nor was there any found along the taxi route used by the airplane. The master brake cylinder was disassembled and appeared to be in working order with no leaks. The airplane was placarded in accordance with Airworthiness Directive 85-02-05 R1. The placard states, "NO BRAKING WILL OCCUR IF AIRCRAFT BRAKES ARE APPLIED WHILE PARKING BRAKE HANDLE IS PULLED AND HELD."
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,596 hours in all; 1,516 in this make and model; 1,496 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 10, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,125 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming o-320-a2b (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Grain Valley MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 4,500 ft by 45 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 pm from MKC, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.