Amateur-built Escape LS accident near Fruitland, Idaho, May 26, 2013
On May 26, 2013 at about 2:00 am local time, a amateur-built Escape LS, registered N3932D, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Fruitland, Idaho (Personal Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during the landing roll as a result of the parking brake lever not being positioned in the full off position.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 26, 2013 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Fruitland, Idaho · Personal Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Escape LS
- Registration
- N3932D · registry record · serial 1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the takeoff roll, the pilot noted that the airplane was rolling longer than expected and suspicioned that he might have been on the brakes a little. After a short local flight he returned to land at the private airstrip. Right after touchdown, he applied the brakes firmly and then released them as the airplane started down a dip in the runway. The pilot noticed that the brakes did not release and were dragging. As the airplane continued to slow, the tail of the airplane started to rise until the airplane nosed over, and came to rest inverted substantially damaging the right wing and lift strut. After exiting the airplane, the pilot attempted to turn the airplane’s wheels and found that they would not turn by hand. The pilot cycled the parking brake valve which fully released the brakes. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Preflight or dispatch event during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear brakes system › Unintentional use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,600 hours in all; 56 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 500 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 25, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 56 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Fuitland ID at 2:45 pm
- Destination: PVT Fuitland ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 800 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 2:35 am from EUL, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.