A C550 STRUCK A PLASTIC POLE ON THE CTRLINE OF A 5802 FT STOPWAY NEAR THE THRESHOLD OF THE 7201 FT RWY AT CIU; MI.

Narrative

A VISUAL APCH TO RWY 34 AT CIU WAS CONDUCTED BY THE PIC IN DAY VMC. THE ACFT WAS FULLY CONFIGURED FOR LNDG AS PER COMPANY PROCS. RWY 34 LENGTH IS 7201 FT; PRECEDED BY A 5208 FT STOPWAY. THE SUN WAS LOW IN THE SKY AND CREATED A SEVERE GLARE THAT OBSCURED THE PAPI LOCATED ON THE L SIDE OF RWY 34. NO MARKINGS WERE VISIBLE AND NO NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE IN PAVEMENT COLOR WAS SEEN; WHICH COULD DIFFERENTIATE THE STOPWAY FROM THE RWY. ON FINAL; THE ACFT STRUCK A PLASTIC POLE LOCATED IN THE CENTER OF THE STOPWAY CLOSE TO THE THRESHOLD OF RWY 34. THE POLE SCRATCHED THE R WINGROOT FAIRING; R FWD AND AFT FUSELAGE. ALL RWY MARKINGS WERE RPTED IN FAIR CONDITION AND WERE VERY FADED. THERE WAS NO NOTAMS PERTAINING TO THE RWY. THE POLE WAS NEITHER MARKED ON ARPT DIAGRAM; NOR WAS IT NOTAMED TO BE THERE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE FO RPTED THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE POLE; BUT THE CAPT DID AT THE LAST MINUTE AND INITIATED A MINI GO AROUND AND CONTINUED TO FLY AND LAND ON THE ACTUAL RWY. HE RPTED THAT THERE IS NO NOTAM ON THIS POLE. THE ARPT WAS BUILT AS AN AIR FORCE B52 FACILITY; BUT IS NOW CIVILIAN. THE ARPT AUTHORITY DOES NOT WANT TO MAINTAIN THE ENTIRE RWY SO THE STOPWAY IS ESSENTIALLY AN ABANDONED RWY PORTION. HOWEVER; THE ACTIVE PORTION OF THE RWY IS NOT WELL PAINTED AND THE STOPWAY IS DIFFICULT TO DISTINGUISH FROM THE RWY; ESPECIALLY IN THE SETTING SUN.