Beech E33A accident near Tucson, Arizona, June 11, 2015
On June 11, 2015 at about 3:40 pm local time, a 1968 Beech E33A, registered N8401N, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Tucson, Arizona (La Cholla Airpark 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
A loss of left braking action for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation, which resulted in a loss of directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 11, 2015 · about 3:40 pm local time
- Place
- Tucson, Arizona · La Cholla Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech E33A, built 1968 · all E33As on the register
- Registration
- N8401N · registry record · serial CE-215
- 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 smoothly with the power nearly off. During the landing roll, the commercial pilot applied gentle pressure to the brakes to slow down; however, there was no left braking action, but there was right braking action. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control of the airplane, and it departed the narrow runway and subsequently collided with a drainage ditch and cement wall. During postaccident examination of the brake system, the hydraulic system was found almost empty because the bleeder valve on the brake caliper had sheared off due to impact damage. The examination revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the lack of left braking action could not be determined.
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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,500 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 4,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 1, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 20, 2015; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO 520 SERIES (piston); 1,000 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 57AZ Tucson AZ at 3:00 pm
- Destination: 57AZ Tucson AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01, 4,500 ft by 44 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 3:58 pm from KDMA, 18 miles away
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.