Piper PA28 N8384E accident near Colorado Springs, Colorado

Probable cause

The pilot's improper taxi speed and his excessive use of brakes, which resulted in a brake fire and substantial thermal damage to the airplane.

NTSB analysis

The pilot was taxiing the airplane to a parking ramp after landing when the airplane lost left and right main landing gear braking effectiveness. The pilot continued the taxi and planned on performing turning maneuvers to slow the airplane enough to make a right turn onto the next taxiway and to perform 360° turns, if needed, to stop the airplane. When he tried two shallow turns to slow the airplane, he heard a loud bang and the airplane veered left and stopped. When he exited the airplane, he saw that the left brake was on fire.

Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed fire damage that extended from the left main landing gear wheel brake assembly to the left wing structure. There was also thermal damage to the right main wheel brake assembly. Examination revealed no mechanical anomalies of the airplane brake system that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that the pilot's excessive taxi speed and use of braking resulted in a brake fire while taxiing.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN19LA314 for the full record.