Pilot Debrief

ALON A2 near Pipestone, MN — 2025-07-20

Final reportCEN25LA264
Sign in to save
Date
2025-07-20
Location
Pipestone, MN, USA
Airport
PQN
Aircraft
ALON A2
Registration
N6557Q
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The failure of the left brake to release due to corrosion and pitting of the caliper piston and bore, which resulted in a runway excursion.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that when the wheels touched down during landing the airplane pulled hard to the left and departed the runway despite his control inputs to correct the airplane’s direction of travel. The airplane nose landing gear collapsed during the runway excursion and the airplane came to rest inverted in the adjacent cornfield. The wings and empennage sustained substantial damage. After the accident a bystander attempted to turn the left wheel of the airplane and told the pilot he could barely move it. Later when the pilot tried to move the left wheel it turned freely. A post-accident examination of the airplane showed that the brake caliper pistons and piston bores for both main landing gear were corroded and pitted. It is likely the left brake caliper failed to release after being used during the landing due to the corroded brake components.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

Related mishaps