Piper PA-24-250 accident near Lyons, New York, May 26, 1990
On May 26, 1990 at about 4:02 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N7308P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lyons, New York. 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
A WORN OUT BRAKE ON THE LEFT MAIN GEAR. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE OWNER'S DECISION NOT TO REPAIR THE LEFT BRAKE AFTER THE RIGHT BRAKE HAD A SIMILAR FAILURE 4 HOURS EARLIER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 26, 1990 · about 4:02 pm local time
- Place
- Lyons, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N7308P · no longer on the register · serial 24-2483
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE RAN OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND DOWN AN EMBANKMENT AFTER THE LEFT BRAKE FAILED DURING LANDING. THE PILOT SAID HE HAD BRAKES ON THE RIGHT, BUT NOT THE LEFT. THE FAA EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT AND FOUND THE LEFT BRAKE WORN TO THE POINT THAT THE PISTON EXTENDED BEYOND ITS NORMAL RANGE AND ALLOWED THE SEAL TO LEAK AND THE BRAKE TO FAIL. THEY ALSO SAID THE RIGHT BRAKE HAD FAILED IN A SIMILAR MANNER 4 HOURS PRIOR AND THE OWNER HAD INSTRUCTED THE REPAIR FACILITY TO ONLY REPLACE THE LININGS ON THE RIGHT SIDE.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 675 hours in all; 173 in this make and model; 108 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 573 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,073 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 21, 1989; 57 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1C5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: D93 Waterloo NY at 3:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 4 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N7308P the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.