Beech A23-24 accident near West Chester, Pennsylvania, September 14, 2007
On September 14, 2007 at about 2:49 pm local time, a Beech A23-24, registered N5073T, was substantially damaged in an accident near West Chester, Pennsylvania (Brandywinde Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The total failure of the left brake disc due to corrosion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 14, 2007 · about 2:49 pm local time
- Place
- West Chester, Pennsylvania · Brandywinde Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A23-24 · all A23-24s on the register
- Registration
- N5073T · no longer on the register · serial MA-319
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane touched down more than halfway beyond the approach end of runway 9; a 3,347-foot-long, 50-foot-wide, asphalt runway. The pilot applied heavy braking, and the airplane veered off the right side of the runway. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the left brake disc had separated from its housing. The right brake disc had cracked, but remained attached to its housing. The left and right brake discs exhibited corrosion. The airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed about 4 months prior to the accident. The mechanic that performed the annual inspection stated that he did not observe corrosion on the brakes at that time. Airworthiness Directive (AD) 71-06-08 addressed repetitive brake disc inspections and replacements; however, the make and model brake disk on the accident airplane was not included on the AD. The reported weather at an airport near the accident site, about the time of the accident, included winds from 160 degrees at 8 knots, varying between 120 degrees and 200 degrees.
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: 1,260 hours in all; 570 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 1,040 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2007; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GED Georgetown DE at 1:30 pm
- Destination: OQN West Chester PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 3,347 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,900 ft; a few clouds at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 pm from PTW, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.