Accident Details
On September 23, 2013, at about 0815 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA60 602P, registration N35FD, sustained substantial damage after overrunning the runway and colliding with the airport's localizer equipment at Sandpoint Airport, Sandpoint, Idaho. The aircraft was registered to Young Living Essential Oils LC, of Lehi, Utah. The commercial pilot and one passenger were not injured, while the remaining passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the corporate cross-country flight, which was operated under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. An instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The flight departed Provo Municipal Airport, Provo, Utah, about 0600 mountain daylight time, with Sandpoint Airport (SZT) as its destination.
Pilot Statement
In a statement to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that while approaching SZT, he requested and was approved for the GPS approach to Runway 01. After descending out of clouds at about 2,500 feet above ground level, the pilot received local automated weather indicating wind from 190 degrees at 4 knots. The pilot stated that on a right base leg for Runway 01, he considered the 4-knot tailwind minimal for the 5,500-foot runway. He landed long but believed sufficient room remained for heavy braking. During the landing roll, he had the sensation of "no brakes at all." The airplane ran off the end of the runway and impacted the localizer before coming to rest upright. The pilot concluded that the accident could have been prevented by landing into the wind and on the numbers. He reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures.
Owner Statement
In a telephone interview, the airplane owner, seated in the rear cabin, stated that during the approach he detected the pilot had an alignment problem. He reported the pilot was high, flaps were full down, airspeed over the threshold was 132 knots, and there was a tailwind of about 10 knots. The airplane flight manual specified an approach speed of about 90 knots for the reported landing weight of 5,156 pounds with full flaps (45 degrees). The owner stated that over the threshold, the airplane dropped then rose, and the pilot tried to force it down. After the runway overrun, the owner exited and noted that the brakes were not smoking but were hot.
Postaccident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector examined the braking system on September 25, 2013. Inspection of the brake reservoir revealed all brake fluid was gone, but the inside area was wet and shiny, indicating recent presence of brake fluid. Brake actuators on the pilot's rudder pedals appeared to be working correctly. The inspector concluded that all evidence supported the contention that the brakes were most likely operating properly prior to the airplane leaving the runway.