# NTSB CHI93LA337: Piper Aerostar 601P, N479CB, Saint James, MI, August 24, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 24, 1993, 11:50 local (15:50 UTC) - Place: Saint James, MI - Coordinates: 45.650894, -85.550224 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6509&lon=-85.5502&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 6 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 30, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9293 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI93LA337 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9293/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI93LA337 ## Probable cause IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE UNFAVORABLE WIND, AND HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS NEAR THE END OF THE RUNWAY. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor) - terrain condition - high obstruction(s) (contributing factor) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - terrain condition - rough/uneven - landing gear,nose gear - overload ## Analysis 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. ## 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. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N479CB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N479CB), registered now, S/N 61P06427963296, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER AEROSTAR 601P (AEROSTAR 6) - Registry model: [Piper AEROSTAR 601P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-aerostar-601p) (registry code 7106012) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 61P-0642 - Airframe hours: 1634 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-S1A5 290 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Merlin Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 24, 1993, 105 hours before - Departed: ARR, AURORA, IL - Destination: 6Y8 - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: 6Y8, Welke, runway 9, 2,682 × 175 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,866 total, 275 in this make and model, 1,705 as pilot in command, 117 in the last 90 days, 46 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: PLN, 110 nm away ## 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 19930824030259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930824030259A), Aug 24, 1993: Piper PA60601P, St James, MI, Substantial damage. Overran runway landing. Displaced threshold and quartering tailwind were possible factors. 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.