PA28 pilot had left brake failure on landing, rolled off end, and hit a ditch.

Attributes
ACN	418406
Time
Date	199810
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : myf airport : myf
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Flight Phase	landing other
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : student
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 127 flight time type : 54
ASRS Report	418406
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical conflict : ground critical other anomaly other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Landed with clearance from tower (myf) on runway 28R. Tower requested I exit runway via taxiway C (first left taxi exit). I responded 'no left brakes, will try taxiway G next exit.' still no left brakes, unable to safely exit runway 28R via taxiway G. Tower ok'ed exit via taxiway F (west end of runway 28R) with no delay. My first instinct was to obey the tower, so I added 1/4 inch throttle and still had too much speed for safe turn to taxiway F, then exited end of runway onto dirt field. When the plane slowed to 5-10 mph, I steered left for the return to the taxiway and entered a 2-3 ft deep ditch. Propeller strike stopped engine. Tower called to ok ground frequency change. I reported problem. Tower asked if I needed assistance. I said no after engine restart and taxied out of ditch to taxiway, then contacted ground for clearance to the parking area and parked the aircraft. I then reported the incident to the flying club board which was currently having a meeting.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA28 PLT HAD L BRAKE FAILURE ON LNDG, ROLLED OFF END, AND HIT A DITCH.

Narrative: LANDED WITH CLRNC FROM TWR (MYF) ON RWY 28R. TWR REQUESTED I EXIT RWY VIA TXWY C (FIRST L TAXI EXIT). I RESPONDED 'NO L BRAKES, WILL TRY TXWY G NEXT EXIT.' STILL NO L BRAKES, UNABLE TO SAFELY EXIT RWY 28R VIA TXWY G. TWR OK'ED EXIT VIA TXWY F (W END OF RWY 28R) WITH NO DELAY. MY FIRST INSTINCT WAS TO OBEY THE TWR, SO I ADDED 1/4 INCH THROTTLE AND STILL HAD TOO MUCH SPD FOR SAFE TURN TO TXWY F, THEN EXITED END OF RWY ONTO DIRT FIELD. WHEN THE PLANE SLOWED TO 5-10 MPH, I STEERED L FOR THE RETURN TO THE TXWY AND ENTERED A 2-3 FT DEEP DITCH. PROP STRIKE STOPPED ENG. TWR CALLED TO OK GND FREQ CHANGE. I RPTED PROB. TWR ASKED IF I NEEDED ASSISTANCE. I SAID NO AFTER ENG RESTART AND TAXIED OUT OF DITCH TO TXWY, THEN CONTACTED GND FOR CLRNC TO THE PARKING AREA AND PARKED THE ACFT. I THEN RPTED THE INCIDENT TO THE FLYING CLUB BOARD WHICH WAS CURRENTLY HAVING A MEETING.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.