# NTSB CEN25LA293: Piper PA-31T3, N401VA, Appleton, WI, July 26, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 26, 2025, 07:45 local (12:45 UTC) - Place: Appleton, WI - Coordinates: 44.258214, -88.512206 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.2582&lon=-88.5122&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 4, 2025 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 200650 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA293 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200650/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200650 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA293 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane on the ground, which resulted in a collision with a parked airplane. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Damaged/degraded; cases with it: [Piper PA-31T3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=7103128), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Inadequate inspection; cases with it: [Piper PA-31T3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=7103128), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31T3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7103128), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31T3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7103128), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-31T3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7103128), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200); cases with it: [Piper PA-31T3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=7103128), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis 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. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N401VA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N401VA), registered now, S/N 31T-8275001, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31T3 - Registry model: [Piper PA-31T3](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31t3) (registry code 7103128) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60a) (registry code 52043, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31T-8275001 - Year built: 1982 - Airframe hours: 18895.2 - Engines: P&W CANADA PT6A-11 1050 horsepower turbo prop; P&W CANADA PT6A-11 1050 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 135 - Operator: Pro Aire Cargo & Consulting Inc, doing business as Pro Aire Cargo - Registered owner: Pro Aire Cargo & Consulting Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, January 4, 2025 - Departed: ATW, Appleton, WI - Destination: MNM, Menominee, WI - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: ATW, Appleton Intl - Equipment: Auto-pilot, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 18,000 total, 7,000 in this make and model, 1.2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KATW, 1 nm away - METAR: KATW 261245Z 00000KT 7SM SCT120 21/17 A3000 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20250726012222A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250726012222A), Jul 26, 2025: Piper PA-31T3, Appleton, WI, Substantial damage. On July 26, 2025, at 7:10 am, [privacy data omitted] departed from milwaukee airport (mke) with approximately 375 lbs. Of [privacy data omitted]cargo. The… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 4, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200650. 5.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 367 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19480429&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20-%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA examination summary (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 92 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19499615&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20exam%20memo-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 832 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19510380&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=-%20Pilot%20statement%20and%20MFR_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 4, PDF, 9 pages, 8 photos, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19481010&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19499978&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20records_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Piper PA-31T3 maintenance manual excerpts (item 6, PDF, 7 pages, 547 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19479381&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Piper%20PA-31T3%20MM%20excerpts%20(Brakes)-Rel.pdf From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.