Piper PA-42 Cheyenne

The pilot made a fairly long taxi from the ramp to the end of the runway and then started his takeoff roll with the parking brake still partially set. The brakes became very hot and the component parts expanded. After rolling almost 3,000 feet the brakes tightened up to the extent that both main gear tires started leaving black skid marks which continued until the aircraft ran off the end of the runway without obtaining flying speed, a distance of 3,168 feet. It was noted, through a design feature of the aircraft, that the parking brake handle could be placed in the released position without the brake being released. However, this would give the appearance that it had been released. The main gear tires were worn almost slick during this attempted takeoff. Both main gear brakes had been overheated during this time to the extent that they were destroyed. The aircraft was destroyed by collision with trees, rocks and a fire hydrant at the bottom of a hill off the end of the runway. The pilot escaped with serious injuries.

The aircraft collided with a tree and a pole short of the runway during a night VFR approach to land. The pilot changed from runway 18 to 36 during the approach. He was seen low and fast on downwind which ended in a steep descending turn to ground contact. The tower had overied the pilot during the initial approach because of his speed and high altitude. The pilot replied that he would be down and requested a change of runway. The wind was reported as from 150° at 7 knots. Both occupants were killed.