Smith Ted Aerostar 601P N9797Q

Summary

On 2 December 2006 at about 17:45 local time, a Smith Ted Aerostar 601P registered N9797Q, operated by Robert B. North Jr., was involved in an accident near West Dover, Vermont, 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.

Date

2 December 2006 at 17:45

Classification

Accident

Location

West Dover, Vermont, United States

Nearest airport

Mount Snow Airport (4V8)

Coordinates

42.9233, -72.8578

Aircraft

Smith Ted Aerostar 601P

Registration

N9797Q

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Robert B. North Jr.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

White Plains → West Dover

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC07FA038

1 person died.

A loss of control during approach for undetermined reasons, which resulted in a collision with trees.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

On the day of the accident, the pilot was returning to his home airport, after dropping off friends at a different airport. No weather briefing or flight plan was filed with Flight Service for either flight. A witness and radar data depicted the accident airplane on a straight-in approach for runway 1, in a landing configuration, at a groundspeed of approximately 120 knots. The last radar target was recorded about 1/4 mile from the runway threshold, at an altitude of approximately 150 feet agl. The wreckage was later found about 1/2 mile east of the runway threshold. Review of weather information revealed general VFR conditions along the route of flight, and at reporting stations near the accident site. Gusty winds, low-level wind shear, and moderate to severe turbulence also prevailed at the time of the accident. In addition, weather radar depicted scattered light snow showers in the vicinity of the accident site, and possibly a snow squall. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The pilot had a total flight experience of 14,000 hours, with 8,500 hours in multiengine airplanes, including 2,600 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane. He also had 4,100 hours of instrument flight experience.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.