N736CLCessna R172K · 1977

On March 28, 2009, about 2118 mountain daylight time, N736CL, a Cessna R172K airplane, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during landing on runway 32 (5,000 feet by 75 feet, asphalt) at the Mercer County Regional Airport (HZE), near Hazen, North Dakota. The pilot and pilot rated passenger reported no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight departed the Searle Field Airport (OGA), near Ogallala, Nebraska, and was destined for HZE.

The pilot's accident report stated that he departed from Amarillo, Texas, (KAMA) where there was snow, water, and slush on the taxiways. He landed at OGA for fuel and departed for HZE. He, in part, reported:

Arriving Hazen, flew traffic pattern, wind appeared light and variable with sky clear. After normal approach and touch down near south end of runway 32, rollout started near center of runway. As I applied brakes, aircraft veered to left. I was able to straighten aircraft with left wheel against snowbank running just off left edge of runway. Right wheel and nose wheel were on the runway. I was not able to bring left wheel back on the runway and was unable to stop aircraft. As the aircraft slowed, the left wheel entered the snowbank pulling the aircraft in until it stopped and nosed over in the snow. ... The aircraft acted like the right brake did not operate properly. I suspect it may have frozen since at KAMA.

At 2052, the recorded weather at the Bismarck Municipal Airport, near Bismarck, North Dakota, was: Wind 310 degrees at 5 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, sky condition clear, temperature -1 degree C, dew point -4 degrees C, altimeter 29.83 inches of mercury.

The accident airplane was examined by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector. The examination revealed no anomalies with the braking system.