Piper PA-32R-300 accident near Appleton, Wisconsin, July 14, 1985
On July 14, 1985 at about 4:55 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-300, registered N4137F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Appleton, Wisconsin (Wisconsin Int'L Speedway airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 1985 · about 4:55 pm local time
- Place
- Appleton, Wisconsin · Wisconsin Int'L Speedway · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300 · all PA-32R-300s on the register
- Registration
- N4137F · registry record · serial 32R7680430
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AS THE PLT APPLIED BRAKES DURING A FULL STOP LANDING, THE RIGHT BRAKE FAILED. THE PLT THEN MANEUVERED THE ACFT OFF THE PAVED LANDING SURFACE IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET IT TO ROLL TO A STOP. THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR STRUT COLLAPSED. THE ACFT THEN SLID INTO A FENCE AND STOPPED. AN EXAMINATION OF THE RIGHT BRAKE ASS'Y REVEALED EXTREMELY THIN INNER AND OUTER BRAKE PADS. SOME PORTIONS OF THE PADS WERE WORN COMPLETELY AWAY. FURTHER EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE O RING SEAL AROUND EACH BRAKE CYLINDER WAS PROTRUDING FROM THE CYLINDER ASS'Y. THE RIGHT TIRE EXHIBITED HEAVY HYDRAULIC FLUID STAINING. A LOGBOOK ENTRY OF 1/25/85 STATED THAT THE BRAKE LININGS AND SEALS FOR BOTH BRAKES WERE REPLACED DURING THAT INSPECTION.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 926 hours in all; 723 in this make and model; 77 in the last 90 days; 800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,558 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 25, 1985; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-K1G5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BNA Nashville TN at 12:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 4,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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 never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.