About 150 metres after touchdown, when the brakes were applied, the aircraft began to veer to the right. Despite the application of heavy braking the pilot was unable to stop the aircraft and it ran off the end of the strip, through a gully and collided with a tree. While the aircraft was being vacated, a fire was noticed around the right wheel area. This fire was controlled by use of the portable extinguisher. A subsequent examination of the strip revealed marks indicative of heavy, intermittent braking forces being applied to the right wheel during the landing roll. Inspection of the aircraft revealed that the left brake had failed due to fatigue cracking of the brake hydraulic line. The cause of this fatigue could not be determined.
