Accident Details
On June 25, 2009, at approximately 1245 central daylight time, a Piper PA-31T1 (Cheyenne I), registered as N701PT, was substantially damaged when it overran runway 16 at Creve Coeur Airport (1H0), near St. Louis, Missouri. The flight was operated by a private pilot under Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight had departed Spirit of St. Louis Airport (KSUS) at about 1230 to reposition the airplane for scheduled maintenance at 1H0.
Flight Sequence
According to the pilot, the local flight took 5-10 minutes to enter the traffic pattern. He initially prepared for runway 34, but the passenger informed him that runway 16 had been active earlier. The pilot changed to a downwind for runway 16. On downwind, abeam the runway 16 markings, he lowered the gear and extended flaps to 3/4 travel. The final approach was "high and fast," and the airplane touched down halfway down the runway with excessive airspeed. To reduce landing roll, the pilot retracted flaps and attempted reverse thrust but could not lift the power levers out of flight idle. The airplane overran the runway and came to rest in a cornfield about 434 feet from the departure threshold. The landing gear collapsed aft, causing substantial damage to both wings and fuselage, and the right engine was torn from its mounts.
Witness Observations
Witnesses reported the airplane touched down about halfway at higher than normal speed. One witness noted a bounce after touchdown, damaging the left main and nose landing gear, with the left main gear broken and bent aft and the nose gear dangling. A second touchdown occurred near the runway 34 markings.
Post-Accident Examination
FAA inspectors examined the airplane. The main landing gear was extended but displaced aft and up; no ground damage on closed main gear doors. Nose gear doors were open, gear extended but displaced aft. Flight control continuity was established. Mechanical continuity from power levers and propeller controls was confirmed. No pre-impact anomalies were found that would preclude normal operation.
Weather and Performance
The nearest weather station at Lambert-St Louis International Airport (KSTL) reported at 1251: wind 250° at 7 knots, visibility 9 miles, few clouds at 3,600 ft, scattered at 12,000 and 20,000 ft, temperature 34°C, dew point 23°C, altimeter 29.90 inHg. The pilot stated landing weight was about 7,000 pounds. According to the pilot operating handbook, required landing distance on a level dry runway without headwind and without propeller reversing was about 1,400 feet; with reversing, about 825 feet.