N337PL

On December 27, 1996, at 1140 eastern standard time, a Cessna 402A, N337PL, operated by Freight Runners Express, Inc., of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as a 14 CFR Part 135, on demand cargo, sustained substantial damage when it exited runway 32 (5,100' x 100' snow covered asphalt) at Menominee, Michigan. The pilot reported minor injuries. The flight departed Green Bay, Wisconsin, about 1100 on an IFR flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.

The pilot said that after making three attempts to land on runway 3 he elected to land on runway 32. He said that the landing was in the center of the runway, but on landing the airplane rotated to the left and exited the runway. He said that he felt the brakes had frozen on the previous landing attempts and that on rollout the right brake freed up; however, the left brake continued to be frozen. He feels that this frozen brake caused the airplane to spin around and exit the runway. He said there was a layer of ice on the windshield except where the alcohol de-ice system removed the ice. He said that he could see the runway on each approach, but had difficulty assessing his altitude above the runway. He indicated during an interview that he should have returned to Green Bay instead of continuing to attempt to land at Menominee.

A witness to the accident stated that after the accident he observed ice on the airframe including the "windows."

Subsequent to the accident an examination of the airplane failed to reveal any mechanical anomalies with the brakes. The right main landing gear folded inboard.