Extra Flugzeugbau GMBH EA 300/L accident near Phoenix, Arizona, January 13, 2022
On January 13, 2022 at about 8:06 pm local time, a 2015 Extra Flugzeugbau GMBH EA 300/L, registered N203EX, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Phoenix, Arizona (Phoenix-Mesa Gateway airport). It was an instructional 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the right brake due to the separation of the brake pad from the brake assembly. Also causal was the improper maintenance of the airplane, which resulted in the use of a brake pad that was inappropriate for the airplane make and model.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 13, 2022 · about 8:06 pm local time
- Place
- Phoenix, Arizona · Phoenix-Mesa Gateway · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Extra Flugzeugbau GMBH EA 300/L, built 2015 · all EA 300/Ls on the register
- Registration
- N203EX · registry record · serial 1203
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, following an uneventful flight, the right main wheel brake failed during the landing roll and the tailwheel-equipped airplane subsequently ground looped, resulting in a collapse of the right main landing gear and substantial damage to the right aileron. Postaccident examination revealed that the brake pad had separated from the brake assembly. The brake pad was found on the airplane’s taxi route. Examination revealed that the pad did not properly fit into the assembly, which could result in its coming loose and separating. Additionally, the brake pad was not authorized for use in the accident airplane make and model.
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) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear brakes system › Incorrect service/maintenance
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Landing gear brakes system › Inoperative
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,093 hours in all; 1,638 in this make and model; 107 in the last 90 days; 84 in the last 30 days; 8,021 as pilot in command; 4,968 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 17, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,497.2 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 18, 2021
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-540 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aviation Performance Solutions LLC
The flight
- Departed from: IWA Phoenix AZ at 12:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12R, 10,401 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 12:50 pm from KIWA, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KIWA 131950Z VRB04KT 10SM BKN250 18/M02 A3020
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR22LA088.