Smith Ted Aerostar 601 N90619
4 May 1989 · New Iberia, Louisiana, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 4 May 1989 at about 00:01 local time, a Smith Ted Aerostar 601 registered N90619 was involved in an accident near New Iberia, Louisiana, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 00:01
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- New Iberia, Louisiana, United States
- Nearest airport
- Acadiana Regional (ARA)
- Coordinates
- 29.9997, -91.8107
- Aircraft
- Smith Ted Aerostar 601
- Registration
- N90619
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Business
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Lorain-Elyria
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- FTW89FA089
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN A PROPER CLIMB IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS EXCESSIVE MANIFOLD PRESSURE INDICATIONS FOR THE LEFT ENGINE. THE PILOT'S DIVERTED ATTENTION IN DEALING WITH THAT CONDITION MOST PROBABLY RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
WITNESSES SAW THE AIRPLANE DEPART AND LAST SAW AND HEARD IT WITH THE LANDING GEAR DOWN AND BOTH ENGINES RUNNING AT WHAT THEY CALLED NORMAL TAKEOFF POWER. EVIDENCE INDICATED THAT THE AIRPLANE THEN MADE A SHARP LEFT TURN AND DESCENDED TO THE GROUND, LEFT WING FIRST. EVIDENCE INDICATED THAT THE RIGHT ENGINE WAS DEVELOPING HIGH POWER WHILE THE LEFT ENGINE WAS DEVELOPING SOMEWHAT LESS THAN TAKEOFF POWER. TEARDOWN OF THE LEFT ENGINE REVEALED METAL EROSION ON THE TOP EDGES OF THE PISTONS WITH NO CORRESPONDING MARKS ON THE CYLINDER WALLS. SOME OF THIS EROSION WAS FROM PREVIOUS OPERATION AND SOME WAS FROM VERY RECENT OPERATION. THERE WAS NO TEARDOWN OF THE RIGHT ENGINE. OTHER THAN THE EROSION OF THE PISTONS, NOTHING WAS FOUND TO INDICATE ANY PREIMPACT PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRFRAME OR POWERPLANTS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Smith Ted Aerostar 601 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Mar 1986 | Smith Ted Aerostar 601P AEROSTAR | Dickinson, North Dakota, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 5 Nov 1986 | Smith Ted Aerostar 601P | Jacksonville, Florida, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 7 Mar 1985 | Smith Ted Aerostar 601 | Sepulveda, California, United States | Wild Blue, Ltd. | Fatal | 1 |
| 24 Jun 1983 | Smith Ted Aerostar 601A | Celina, Ohio, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 23 Apr 1999 | Smith Ted Aerostar 601P | Ruidoso, New Mexico, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 16 Feb 2002 | Smith Ted Aerostar 601P | Belle Glade, Florida, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jun 1989 | Bell 206L | Abbeville, Louisiana, United States | Taylor Energy Vthe | No injuries | - |
| 20 Jun 1989 | Cessna 150J | Minden, Louisiana, United States | James M. Maples, JR. | No injuries | - |
| 24 Jun 1989 | Cessna A185F | Marksville, Louisiana, United States | Morris, Ivan JR. | No injuries | - |
| 18 Jul 1989 | Aeronca 7AC | Gueydan, Louisiana, United States | Lejeune Darryle B. | Fatal | 2 |
| 19 Aug 1989 | Bell 206B | Oak Grove, Louisiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 26 Aug 1989 | Cessna 150C | Jonesboro, Louisiana, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |