Cessna 525B accident near Stuart, Florida, March 8, 2008
On March 8, 2008 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Cessna 525B, registered N400GG, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (to runway) near Stuart, Florida (Witham Field). It was a business 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
The flight crew's failure to reset the brakes circuit breaker resulting in a loss of brakes during taxi and an on ground collision with an unoccupied parked airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 8, 2008 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Stuart, Florida · Witham Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 525B · all 525Bs on the register
- Registration
- N400GG · no longer on the register · serial 0195
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the flight crew, on March 6, 2008, the first officer had updated the Jepson Database and in the process had pulled the brake circuit breaker to keep the brake hydraulic motor from continuously cycling. This circuit breaker was missed when the airplane was restored to normal operating condition. On March 8, 2008, the first officer was performing the co-pilot duties. Clearance was received and the pilot in command began taxiing. The first officer started to program the flight management system. There was a strong gusty wind from the left. They had to make a 90-degee right turn to join the taxiway. The pilot in command made some comment about the brakes. The first officer looked up and they were headed toward an unoccupied parked airplane on the opposite side of the taxiway. At that time they struck the parked airplane. According to both crew members with the direction of the wind, nose steering alone was not enough to turn the airplane onto the taxiway. Brakes were needed but there were no brakes, and emergency brakes were not used.
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 taxi (to runway) defining event
- Ground collision during taxi (to runway)
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Aircraft › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear brakes system › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,500 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 3,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,000 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 12,000 as pilot in command; 500 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 65 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme; 65 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 13,870 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Williams International FJ44-3A (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Williams International FJ44-3A (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Tgc Aircraft Investments, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: SUA Stuart FL at 2:30 pm
- Destination: DNL Augusta GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 30, 5,826 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 19 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 7,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 2:15 pm from KSUA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.