Smith Ted Aerostar AEROSTAR 601 N7421S

Summary

On 30 April 2000 at about 18:11 local time, a Smith Ted Aerostar AEROSTAR 601 registered N7421S was involved in an accident near Estes Park, Colorado, 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

30 April 2000 at 18:11

Classification

Accident

Location

Estes Park, Colorado, United States

Coordinates

40.3698, -105.5209

Aircraft

Smith Ted Aerostar AEROSTAR 601

Registration

N7421S

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Page → Fort Collins

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN00FA086

2 people died.

A descent below the surrounding terrain, by the pilot, in IMC conditions. Factors were high mountainous terrain, clouds, inaccurate weather evaluation by the pilot, and the pilot's flight into IMC conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While on a cross-country flight, according to radar data and weather information, the pilot descended below terrain clearance altitude and entered IMC conditions. The aircraft impacted a mountain peak approximately 100 feet below the summit. No flight plan had been filed and the pilot was not instrument rated.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.