Event CHI93LA337

Factual narrative

On August 24, 1993, at 1150 eastern daylight time, a Piper Aerostar 601P, N479CB, registered to Merlin Aviation, Inc., of Naperville, Illinois, and operated by an instrument rated private pilot, experienced an overrun while landing on runway 9 (2,682' x 175' turf/gravel) at Saint James, Michigan. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot and five passengers reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 business flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. An IFR flight plan had been filed for the flight which departed Aurora, Illinois, at 0930. The pilot stated that after touchdown heavy braking was ineffective. The airplane overran the departure end of the runway approximately 125 feet. During the off runway excursion the nosewheel collapsed. Subsequent examination failed to reveal any anomalies with the brakes of the accident airplane. The landing runway, 9 has a displaced landing threshold of 525 feet due to trees for a total landing length of 2,157 feet. The Aerostar 601 Owners Manual shows landing distance at 5000 lbs., zero wind, 45 degrees flaps, sea level, 3 degrees approach angle to be 2,180 feet. The pilot stated in his written statement that when he checked an airport guide for the length of the runway. He found it listed as 2,650 feet. He further stated that he talked with the operators of the airport and they informed him that the runway length was 3,500 feet. The landing was conducted on runway 9. The pilot reported the winds to be approximately 180 degrees 10 knots gusts to 15. The nearest reporting station 32 miles to the east southeast of the island where the accident happened, reported at 1251, winds to be 250 degrees at 20 knots. DURING A LANDING, THE AIRPLANE OVERRAN THE RUNWAY & STOPPED ABOUT 125 FEET BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END WITH A COLLAPSED NOSE GEAR. THE PILOT INDICATED HE THOUGHT THE WIND WAS FROM ABOUT 180 DEGREES AT 10 GUSTING 15 KNOTS. ABOUT 32 MILES EAST-SOUTHEAST AT PELLSTON, MI, THE WIND WAS FROM 250 DEGREES AT 20 KNOTS. THE AIRPLANE LANDED ON RUNWAY 9, WHICH WAS 2682 FEET LONG; IT HAD AN EFFECTIVE LANDING LENGTH OF 2157 FEET DUE TO A 525 FOOT DISPLACED THRESHOLD, WHICH IN TURN WAS DUE TO TREES. THE AEROSTAR 601 OWNERS MANUAL SHOWED A REQUIRED LANDING DISTANCE OF 2180 FEET (FOR 5000 LBS GROSS WEIGHT, ZERO WIND, 45 DEGREES FLAPS, SEA LEVEL & A 3 DEGREE APPROACH ANGLE). THE PILOT STATED THAT AN AIRPORT GUIDE (THAT HE USED FOR PLANNING PURPOSES) LISTED THE RUNWAY AS 2650 FEET, AND WHEN HE TALKED WITH THE OPERATORS OF THE AIRPORT, THEY TOLD HIM THE RUNWAY WAS 3500 FEET LONG. A POST-ACCIDENT INSPECTION FAILED TO REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12