19970711047749A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Smith AEROSTAR 601 · Bouldercity, NV · July 11, 1997

Date: July 11, 1997 · 17:00 local
Place: Bouldercity, NV
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N7435S
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX97LA244

N7435SRegistration cancelled Apr 28, 1999 · Smith AEROSTAR 601S/N 61-0020 Airframe modelSmith AEROSTAR 601

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-16) The pilot decided to land on runway 33. Winds were very strong (30-40MPH) out of the south. The pilot became aware that he was not going to be able to land and stop on runway 33 at about 50 ft. AGL, so initiated to go around at that point. After initiating the go around, the pilot decided that the aircraft was close to stalling and would not have the performance needed to make the go around. He aborted the go around and landed the aircraft with the landing gear retracted. The pilot made several decisions within a short period of time that led up to this accident.

As the FAA filed it

(-16) THE PILOT DECIDED TO LAND ON RUNWAY 33. WINDS WERE VERY STRONG (30-40MPH) OUT OF THE SOUTH. THE PILOT BECAME AWARE THAT HE WAS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO LAND AND STOP ON RUNWAY 33 AT ABOUT 50 FT. AGL, SO INITIATED TO GO AROUND AT THAT POINT. AFTER INITIATING THE GO AROUND, THE PILOT DECIDED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS CLOSE TO STALLING AND WOULD NOT HAVE THE PERFORMANCE NEEDED TO MAKE THE GO AROUND. HE ABORTED THE GO AROUND AND LANDED THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE LANDING GEAR RETRACTED. THE PILOT MADE SEVERAL DECISIONS WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME THAT LED UP TO THIS ACCIDENT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX97LA244Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBoulder City, NVthe pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision, his failure to obtain the current wind information, his selection of the wrong runway, and his delay in aborting landing.Jul 12, 1997 · Substantial damage