Fleet 7 accident near Louisa, Virginia, September 7, 2013
On September 7, 2013 at about 3:10 pm local time, a 1929 Fleet 7, registered N9433, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Louisa, Virginia (Louisa County/Freeman Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Maintenance personnel’s improper service, adjustment, and inspection of the brakes, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent noseover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 7, 2013 · about 3:10 pm local time
- Place
- Louisa, Virginia · Louisa County/Freeman Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Fleet 7 NO SERIES, built 1929 · all 7s on the register
- Registration
- N9433 · registry record · serial 81
- 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, following a normal left-crosswind landing, the airplane veered left. Further right rudder application resulted in the airplane continuing to veer left until it exited the edge of the runway and nosed over. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the brake cable was not properly adjusted and that, as a result, the application of the right rudder pedal engaged the left brake. The airplane's last annual inspection occurred about 2 months before the accident, and, during this inspection, maintenance personnel were required to check the brakes for proper adjustment. It is likely that if maintenance personnel had adequately conducted the annual inspection they could have recognized the incorrectly adjusted brakes. No other anomalies or mechanical malfunctions were found that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Inadequate inspection
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Scheduled/routine maintenance › Maintenance personnel
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Scheduled/routine inspection › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 17,035 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 264 in the last 90 days; 88 in the last 30 days; 5,785 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 16, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,740 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 29, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 2,144 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Kinner R55 (piston); 729 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3VA3 Bealton VA at 2:30 pm
- Destination: LKU Louisa VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,300 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 3:15 pm from KLKU
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.