Piper PA-30 accident near Cynthiana, Kentucky, August 28, 2004
On August 28, 2004 at about 12:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-30, registered N888LC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cynthiana, Kentucky (Cynthiana-Harrison County 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inoperative left main landing gear brake check valve, which resulted in a loss of directional control during the takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 28, 2004 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Cynthiana, Kentucky · Cynthiana-Harrison County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-30 · all PA-30s on the register
- Registration
- N888LC · registry record · serial 30272
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was conducting the first flight of the airplane after an annual inspection had been performed. The start-up, taxi, and run-up all appeared to be "normal", so the pilot elected to depart. During the takeoff roll, at an airspeed of about 70 knots, the airplane yawed left, departed the runway pavement, and struck a windsock pole. Following the accident, a mechanic examined the brake systems of the airplane, and noted that the left main gear parking brake was improperly connected, and the left main gear brake check valve was inoperative resulting in constant pressure being placed to the left brake calipers.
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: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,291 hours in all; 1,011 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 1,291 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,548 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2004; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming IO-320-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming IO-320-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0I8 Cynthiana KY at 12:30 pm
- Destination: IOB Mount Sterling KY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 3,852 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 12:54 pm from LEX, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number NYC04LA221.