Cessna 414 accident near Burley, Idaho, September 28, 1998
On September 28, 1998 at about 5:55 pm local time, a Cessna 414, registered CGLHP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Burley, Idaho (Burley Municipal airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A brake system failure for undetermined reasons. An intentional ground loop was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 28, 1998 · about 5:55 pm local time
- Place
- Burley, Idaho · Burley Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 414 · all 414s on the register
- Registration
- CGLHP · no longer on the register · serial 414-0099
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight crew reported that while taxiing after their first landing, the co-pilot reported to the captain that the left brake did not feel normal. The captain agreed and they taxied the aircraft to a maintenance facility for inspection. The mechanic visually inspected the brake system and did not find anything. The flight crew reported that the brake lines had recently been replaced and the mechanic instructed the flight crew to pump the brakes in case of air in the lines. The flight crew reported that they pumped the brakes prior to takeoff and felt that the pressure was now okay. The flight crew reported that during the second landing ground roll, the left braking action failed. The captain made a decision to apply hard right rudder and right brake to deliberately ground loop the aircraft before it ran off the end of the runway and into a river. The brake system was inspected and the left side brake master cylinder was removed for testing. During the functional test, it was found that the master cylinder assembly met all engineering requirements. The spot putty in place locking the cover to the body was consistent with Cessna production assembly practices which indicated that the cylinder had never been overhauled. The unit was disassembled and no evidence of wear, scratches or pitting were found.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,800 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 5,334 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,442 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 23, 1998; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,350 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO 520-NB (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Skyward Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: BIL Billings MT at 4:10 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 2, 4,094 ft by 80 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:49 pm from BYI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.