Smith Ted Aerostar AEROSTAR 601P N345LS

Summary

On 23 July 1999 at about 16:13 local time, a Smith Ted Aerostar AEROSTAR 601P registered N345LS, operated by Mark H. Johnson, was involved in an accident near Bethany, Oklahoma, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 July 1999 at 16:13

Classification

Accident

Location

Bethany, Oklahoma, United States

Nearest airport

Wiley Post Airport (PWA)

Coordinates

35.4994, -97.6396

Aircraft

Smith Ted Aerostar AEROSTAR 601P

Registration

N345LS

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Mark H. Johnson

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → San Angelo

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW99FA199

2 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain the minimum controllable airspeed. A factor was the disconnected rubber interconnect boot, which resulted in the partial loss of left engine power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

During takeoff, the twin-engine airplane was observed to roll left, pitch nose down, and impact terrain shortly after the pilot reported to ATC that he had a problem. Witnesses reported that the left engine was producing black smoke during the takeoff roll. One witness stated that the airplane had slowed to approximately 60-70 mph prior to rolling to the left. A mechanic, who worked on the airplane prior to the accident, stated that the pilot reported being unable to maintain manifold pressure (MP) with the left engine. The mechanic found that the left engine's rubber interconnect boot, which routes induction air between the turbocharger controller elbow and the fuel servo, was 'gaping open.' The mechanic reseated the boot and tightened the clamp. The pilot flew the airplane and reported no problems. During a second flight, the pilot reported that the left engine was again unable to maintain MP. Prior to the accident flight, the pilot informed the mechanic that the 'hose had slid off again' and that it had been reinstalled and he 'felt sure it was o.k.' A witness stated that he saw the pilot working on the left engine the morning of the accident. At the accident site, the left engine's interconnect boot was found disconnected. The clamp securing the boot was not located. No other pre-impact anomalies were found with the engines, propellers, turbochargers, or fuel servos.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.