Primary finding
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.
Investigator assessment
Analysis 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.