Piper PA-31-325 accident near Newark, New Jersey, April 2, 2009
On April 2, 2009 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-31-325, registered N707AG, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (to runway) near Newark, New Jersey (Newark Liberty Int. Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to continue to operate the airplane with inoperative brakes on the airplane's right side.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 2, 2009 · about 10:30 pm local time · cases in 2009
- Place
- Newark, New Jersey · Newark Liberty Int. Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-325 · all PA-31-325s on the register
- Registration
- N707AG · registry record · serial 31-8012001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot aborted a previous takeoff because he was unable to maintain directional control of the airplane. He taxied the airplane to parking, inspected it visually, and elected to attempt another takeoff. During taxi, the control tower directed the pilot to complete a 180-degree turn. While turning, the pilot experienced a loss of brake pressure and directional control. He then applied asymmetrical engine power in an effort to complete the turn, but struck a fence post resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. Inspection of the airplane by the FAA revealed inoperative brakes on the airplane's right side.
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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during taxi (to runway)
- Loss of control on ground during taxi (to runway) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during taxi (to runway)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Malfunction other cases naming the landing gear
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,800 hours in all; 233 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 11,574 as pilot in command; 4,078 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 18, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,482 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 12, 2008; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,540 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming TI0-540 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming TI0-540 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Emersums LLC
The flight
- Departed from: EWR Newark NJ
- Destination: EWR Newark NJ
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from EWR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N707AG 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 44,839 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming TI0-540 SER 5,074 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Lycoming TI0-540 SER 5,074 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Newark Liberty International · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in New Jersey 1,189 since 1982 · 135 in the last ten years
- New Jersey 3,017 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA09CA227.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.