Amateur-built LONG EZ accident near Placerville, California, June 14, 2009
On June 14, 2009, a amateur-built LONG EZ, registered N7999H, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Placerville, California (Placerville 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inability to maintain directional control during the landing roll due to a jammed brake cable.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 14, 2009
- Place
- Placerville, California · Placerville Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LONG EZ
- Registration
- N7999H · registry record · serial 721
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that following an uneventful landing, he applied light pressure to both the left and right brakes. The pilot noted that the left brake was inoperative and the airplane began to veer to the right. Despite the pilot's control inputs, the airplane exited the runway towards a row of stationary airplanes. He applied full right rudder/brake to miss the parked aircraft. Subsequently, the airplane impacted an unoccupied stationary vehicle which resulted in structural damage to both wings and fuselage. Examination of the brake system by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no anomalies with the left brake master cylinder. The inspector reported that the brake control cable was routed through the middle of a neoprene plastic housing, which was an attachment point for the rear foot pegs. The neoprene plastic housing was attached to an aluminum sliding fixture that was mounted to the interior fuselage structure. A compression sleeve band attached to the brake cable allowed the cable to engage the neoprene plastic housing when forward pressure was applied to the rear foot pegs to actuate the brakes. The inspector stated that a small amount of sideways pressure was applied to the brake cable under the rear cockpit floor. The cable compression sleeve contacted the aluminum sliding fixture. Subsequently, normal pressure was applied to the forward left foot peg with restricted forward movement noted.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Malfunction
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 447 hours in all; 291 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 384 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 17, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,239 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, April 5, 2009; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MYV Marysville CA
- Destination: PVF Placerville CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 4,201 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,100 ft; ovct at 4,100 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
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.