Piper PA-31T3 accident near Appleton, Wisconsin, July 26, 2025
On July 26, 2025 at about 12:45 pm local time, a 1982 Piper PA-31T3, registered N401VA, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi near Appleton, Wisconsin (Appleton Intl airport). It was a business flight under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane on the ground, which resulted in a collision with a parked airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 2025 · about 12:45 pm local time · cases in 2025
- Place
- Appleton, Wisconsin · Appleton Intl · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31T3, built 1982 · all PA-31T3s on the register
- Registration
- N401VA · registry record · serial 31T-8275001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during engine start up, he applied the brakes to the cargo airplane and remained stationary while he received a taxi clearance. As he released the brakes to begin taxiing, the brake pedals went to the floor with no braking action. He pumped the brakes several times with no effect, so he feathered both propellers and shut down the engines. The airplane continued to roll and collided with a parked airplane on the ramp. Postaccident examination revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. A functional check revealed that the brake system was operational with no malfunctions noted. The left main landing gear brake pads were worn beyond allowable limits. The examination did not reveal any other anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. While the left brake pads were worn beyond allowable limits, the main landing gear braking action would have still been available to the pilot.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi
- Loss of control on ground during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Damaged/degraded other cases naming the landing gear
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Inadequate inspection other cases naming the landing gear
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,000 hours in all; 7,000 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 18,895.2 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, January 4, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 9,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: P&W Canada PT6A-11 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: P&W Canada PT6A-11 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Pro Aire Cargo & Consulting INC
The flight
- Departed from: ATW Appleton WI
- Destination: MNM Menominee WI
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:45 am from KATW, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KATW 261245Z 00000KT 7SM SCT120 21/17 A3000
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 8 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Accident airplane, Front
Photograph 2 – Accident airplane, Left Wing
Photograph 3 – Forward Left Brake Pads
Photograph 4 – Forward Left Brake Pads
Photograph 5 - Forward Left Brake Pads
Photograph 6 – All Aft Left Brake Pads
Photograph 7 - Aft Left Inboard Brake Pads
Photograph 8 – Forward Left Brake PadsThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on December 4, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Examination Summary | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photos | PDF, 9 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 5 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Piper PA-31T3 Maintenance Manual Excerpts | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N401VA on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-31 Navajo and Chieftain 934 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,840 aircraft on the register
- Engine: P&W Canada PT6A-11 5 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: P&W Canada PT6A-11 5 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Appleton International · nearest airport
- Menominee Regional · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Wisconsin 1,622 since 1982 · 225 in the last ten years
- Wisconsin 6,161 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN25LA293.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.