N479CB

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.